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Lust And Loathing

      
         
         
         
     
             
The Unguided are a heavy metal band from Sweden formed in 2010 releasing their first E.P. in 2011. Two albums followed, in 2011 and 2014, with their third album released in 2016.    
             
'Enraged' gets the album underway in blistering fashion with some brutal opening riffing, before the song settles into a heavy melodic romp, with a mix of clean and gruff vocals. The two vocal styles work very well as 'Enraged' rages on until conclusion. 'The Worst Day (Revisited)' is more of the same with some simply superb guitar work with the gruff vocal style spitting the lyrics out with so much venom, stand too close you may get poisoned. There are hints at progressive thrown in too with 'King Of Clubs' bringing the pace down, growled vocals with a melodious chorus that is catchy. 'Heartseeker' is not a ballad, neither is it the fast paced, high intensity heaviness heard so far. An attempt at a hard rock song, it is okay. However, across the first four songs, the break for the chorus and indeed the choruses themselves do seem way too similar in sound which makes it difficult to know which song you're listening to.    
             
'Phobos Grip' displays a progressive tendency with lighter guitars and a cracking attitude laden gruff vocal delivery. And thankfully the chorus break is way different to anything heard already. All these musicians have been around for some time playing in various bands and are experienced in what they do, and it shows. Every song is well written, structured and played. The mid tempo stomp 'Black Eyed Angel' offers the listener a breather from the high speed heavy metal yet falls into the "way too similar chorus break" that seems to be a trend throughout this album.    
             
Upping the tempo and pace is 'Operation E.A.E.' with venomous vocals and some awesomely brutal riffing, but the only thought at this stage of listening is "where is the same sounding chorus" and on this occasion I am happy to say it does not arrive. 'Boneyard' is another of those progressive sounding songs, with gruff, venom spitting vocals fused easily with the clean style. 'Boneyard' does have a head bangers chug about it and if you're looking for something slightly different, then give it a listen. Bringing the album to a close is 'Hate (And Other Triumphs), a bold effort at atmosphere building intro, epic stomping and mid tempo heaviness. Even at this slower pace, you can still detect that the chorus break is something you have heard somewhere else before. The album is by no means disappointing, there are some great songs, guitar work and the vocals are unique and must be heard. It's just a shame that seventy percent of the songs on offer seem to have the same sounding chorus...    
             
Overall, metal with both thrash and progressive tendencies, a dual vocal style to make the sound unique but too many similar sounding chorus breaks does disappoint.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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