Bards typically would travel the lands over, armed often simply with a lute and a story, the bards would weave their lyrical calligraphy embellishing tales for all to hear, though we may very much be in a different time, these metaphorical bards do still exist…
Opener “A New Day Will Rise” strides into the limelight showcasing the fast paced attack of the band with the the gauntlet being thrown down immediately thrusting the listener into the new chapter. Picking up directly where Odalheim left off Dawn Of The Nine chronicles the aftermath of the previous album. The aspect of story telling that has always been prevalent in the band, it seems that with this outing there are elements of direct dialogue, illustrated through the distorted vocals. Dwarfing the listener through Hedlund’s larger than life bellow, engaging exactly as the band would want. “They Came To Die” ensures that the pace remains topped up after the initial battering ram, employing the classic battle tactics of gallopping riffs along with snaking lead lines and not to mention the palpable lyrical spitting of chorus “They came to fuckin’ die!”
Hedlund’s vocals are just as biting as they always have been, commanding an imposing threat. Told as a story, the album is a both chronological affair yet has the ability to be absorbed as individual pieces. Each song paints a perfect narrative of the story. Utilising different techniques, we see that Unleashed are very much not a one trick pony! Having recorded the album with guitarist Fredrik Folkare the band retain the organic timbre of instruments, once again giving more of a life like quality, setting the sound perfectly. Instead of the polished style all too many bands adopt today Unleashed have created their own organic tones that have become synonymous with not only the bands delivery but their sound.
Though some of the highlights come from slightly slower tracks, the slow crawl of “Land Of A Thousand Lakes” opens with a terrific lugubrious bass line followed quickly by the classic spider like riffing adopted by the band many moons ago along with second single “Defenders Of Midgard” delivering a delightfully bleak sound until the galloping riffs rear their heads. Where Unleashed seem to have mastered their craft is the streamlined writing of a layered tale that will engage the listener on a lyrical level, whilst also being conceptual. Ensuring that each guitar line or drum part is engaging along with the fantastic solo’s giving a delightful melodic touch to each song on the album. It’s also worth noting that each song has sense of beginning and end, acting like ten chapters in a book the soundscapes whilst not only illustrating the ideas behind the album create a sense on continuity.
However there are throwbacks like the ferocious single “Where Is Your God Now?” A defiant cry out and arguably the catalyst of the album, where in the classic three act structure of a story would lie The Confrontation. Where a character begins a chain of events leading to the inevitable climax. Coloured fantastically between songs with the dirge like instrumentals that lend more texture to the album’s atmospheric nuances. Simultaneously having their foot well and truly in the modern door the band also tastefully paint a beautifully desolate picture of our White Christ’s war. With the aid of unconventional instruments and imperial sounding drums we’re transported into the fictional world of Odalheim.
Harmonies are an integral weapon in the Unleashed arsenal, throughout the record with tracks like “Where Churches Once Burned” we see an atmospheric imposing opening before the clouds part to reveal the more classic black metal tendencies the band employ. Not before the albums last gasp, after arguably one of the slowest the band have ever written we’re ushered into the new age, “Welcome The Son Of Thor“. With fantastic use of bass, creating varying dynamics ensuring that each song stands alone. Though one of the centre pieces of the new album has to be the aforementioned title track “Dawn Of The Nine” employing theatrical elements with a mature delivery contrary to the often pantomime like pitfalls bands so easily fall into. With varied tempos the song is a fantastic representation of this new chapter for Unleashed.
Crafting a deft mix of old school death metal, flirting with black metal influences doused in atmosphere yet containing some of the best guitar solo’s of the year so far. Fans old and new will lap this new work up. Slowly building tension throughout their discography the sense of excitement is tangible on the record. Lyrically the album advances the story and ends on a cliffhanger whilst musically the various nuances the band employ show even more evidence of evolution. Creating an album that builds anticipation on not only a conceptual level but musically. Dawn Of The Nine is truly spellbinding masterclass in both musicianship and storytelling ability.
