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Vanishing Point

    
       
       
       
     
             
Unknown are a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 2020, releasing their debut album 'Vanishing Point' in 2022...    
             
...featuring eight songs that run the gamut of the heavy metal genre, often stretching out a leg and setting foot in many other metal genres, such as thrash and prog rock! Founded in 2019 by long time friends Aamir Syed (guitar and bass) and Bob Beyer (guitar), the duo are joined by Fires In The Distance drummer Jordan Rippe, and singer Matt Fisher - Jordan's room-mate! The album runs for a mere thirty three minutes, yet the diversity is simply incredible - the album opening with the anticipation fuelled one and a half minute instrumental intro 'Prelude', switching up a couple o' gears for 'The Bastard King' - a ferociously fast paced thrasher that's gonna get heads nodding very quickly! The blistering pace is phenomenal, the band making a bold and immediate statement, listeners sitting up with vigour to take notice of a thoroughly dynamic song!    
             
And by stark contrast, the title song 'Vanishing Point' has a much mellower approach to grabbing your attention - for the first thirty seconds or so! And then boom, 'Vanishing Point' (the song) takes on a heavy chugging rhythm that'll see heads slow down to a nod and feet begin to tap. The band, delivering two distinct metal sounds across the albums first two songs, make it three with the old school flavoured, "foot on the monitor" feel of 'Mission No. 84' - and a guitar sound so synonymous with the iconic NWOBHM evolution. And keeping the old school flavour alive, 'Fury' is heavier than the previous song, and sees the introduction of some fairly harsh vocals too! Unknown delivering a metal sound that is infectious and catchy.    
             
At over seven minutes in length, 'The Prophet's Hair' is the longest song on the album, opening with sound effects and a mellowness not heard previously. Are we heading into a ballad? Maybe, but there's something about this first minute and a half that makes me think it's just an intro - and there we go! With a thump and a thud, we're off and chugging again, only this time there are touches of alternative and progressive metal elements, widening the bands audience and planting a different perspective on their sound. Upping the tempo to new heights, Unknown stretch their legs with 'Where Men Find Glory' a bouncy and buoyant metal come rock march. Much more melodic than anything heard so far, 'Where Men Find Glory' is surely gonna become a fan favourite! 'Road Of Light' closes the album in very mellow mood, a serene atmosphere descending upon the album, as the band wander into ballad country, encouraging listeners, fans and followers to raise their lighters high in the air.    
             
Overall, a half hour of infectious heavy metal with inflections of the alternative and progressive nature of metal.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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