UNCHAINED
"Unchained"
(Sound Riot; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Unchained are a highly talented band, as the musical performances and songwriting on this self-titled CD will attest. Songs are written with a melodic punch, guitars wail and shred at will and the chunk factor is present and accounted for.
Lead vocalist Per Karlsson sounds like a younger version of Iron Maiden crooner Bruce Dickinson, while the music never sounds as edgy as Dickinson's band. This is as it should be; despite the similarity in singers, Iron Maiden and Unchained perform different styles of metal. Whereas Iron Maiden is known for its crushing force, Unchained deliver a more artful sound.
Fans of melodic power bands such as Balance of Power and Gamma Ray will find something to their liking, if nothing startlingly original, on "Unchained."
Unchained: Per Karlsson - vocals; David Blome - guitars; Peter Ericcson - guitars; Mattias Osbeck - bass; Martin Michaelsson - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.unchained.se/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
