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Unleashed - Shadows In The Deep review



Reviewer:
9.5

159 users:
8.37
Band: Unleashed
Album: Shadows In The Deep
Release date: 1992


01. The Final Silence
02. The Immortals
03. A Life Beyond
04. Shadows In The Deep
05. Countess Bathory [Venom cover]
06. Never Ending Hate
07. Onward Into Countless Battles
08. Crush The Skull
09. Bloodbath
10. Land Of Ice

Some people say this is the top of Unleashed work, that Shadows In The deep is for Unleashed what Master Of Puppets is for Metallica, well let's analyze this one now.

Johnny Hedlund is the master mind of Unleashed, not only did he wrote all of the lyrics in this album, but he also wrote all of the arrangements and music in it except for a couple of songs which are "A Life Beyond" and "Shadows In The Deep" where the music was written by Fredrik.

The album itself is better than the previous one "Where No Life Dwells" the production is much better, and the sound is clean and satisfying, The cover art by Axel Hermann is crushing, the music is stronger and much faster, the riffs are the catchiest ones ever in metal history and the lyrics are better structured.

The songs in this album are innovative, the greatest song in "Shadows In The Deep" is of course the album homonym "Shadows In The Deep", although there are a whole bunch of incredible songs such as Bloodbath (this song might be the strongest song in the album) where the riffs are fast and enraged, the drumming is inconceivable and the bass is breathtaking (actually most of the Bass playing in the album is far-fetched due to the fact that Hedlund made all of the bass arrangements). Another great song is the Venom Cover "Countess Bathory" this one is maybe the only good cover that unleashed has made in their career, it's really a very good cover.

Why this album does not deserve a 10? Because the vocals in this album have no shade, they are totally flat and we all now that Hedlund can do better than that, (In the album "Across The Open Sea" the voice arrangements and shades are Brutally insane) in the song "Onward Into Countless Battles" Johnny's Voice is magnificent but that is the only song with shimmering voice and the other ones are plane, that indeed is a minor flaw but that tiny error made the album "Not Perfect". The album is one of a kind and indeed it is a blast in metal music.

Written by Herzebeth | 10.07.2004




Comments

Comments: 7   Visited by: 137 users
29.09.2007 - 14:09
Rating: 7
Sunioj

I agree that the production is alot better. The Countess Bathory cover is also excellent. Im kind of torn between this album and Where no Life Dwells, and I would give this album like an 8 point something, because the formula for the riffs are simple and sometimes repeated. Same with Where No life dwells. Anyway, great Old school DM album...
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09.05.2008 - 18:58
Rating: 10
Nyxgrinder

This album is fucking great period.........

if the rifs repeat is cause they feel the same vibe over and over I guess
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01.07.2009 - 21:49
Maxx666
Meshuggahian
Definitely One of the best old school Death metal album.Love those insane chainsaw riffing
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17.05.2011 - 14:59
Rating: 6
Ace Frawley
The Spaceman
Love the killer sound on the track Bloodbath on this album. A great moment in the history of Death Metal.
----
The sun shines over The Fool...
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05.06.2011 - 22:23
GroundZero

I remember when I bought this album in 1993, I did it just for the album's cover and what a big surprise when listening to it. One of the best death metal albums I've ever listened to.

This is an album every death metal fan has to have in their CD collection, truly amazing.
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28.03.2012 - 21:11
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Gahh, this is a masterpiece of an album. IMO the highlight of their career
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29.03.2012 - 11:00
Daniell
_爱情_
I've always preferred "Where No Life Dwells". I absolutely loved it when it was released.
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