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Dread the Forsaken: Unbound

Modern Heavy/Progressive Metal

3.75/5.0

Nightmare Records
www.dread-rocks.com
www.myspace.com/dreadtheforsaken
By Craig Hartranft,  11.07.2010

Hailing from Guatemala City, Dread the Forsaken brings their debut work, the interesting Unbound on Nightmare Records. While Unbound certainly sparks some interest, pinning down DTF's influences and direction may require more work. Elements of traditional heavy and power metal are evident; melody and harmony is not lost, and hardcore or dirty vocals are few. But you will find a nod to some more modern vocal and musical trends. There's enough technicality here to push Unbound towards the progressive. Yet, this all seems wrapped in a modern sound, near to Disturbed and the like, but without the monotonous redundancy. Songs like Walk With Me and Dread the Forsaken have both melodic and technical sensibility to make them accessible. Yet there's also staccato drumming and nearly hardcore thumping to be predictable from tune to tune. If it were not for the fine vocals and vocal arrangements of Gordon Tittsworth (Images of Eden) and founder Mauricio Liborio worthy fret work, Unbound might easily degenerate into modern metal complacency; a song like Roses Are Burning certainly comes close. Then there's true modern sound of the rapcore hard rock of the title track which may turn the heads of those who don't like anything steering towards nu-metal. Nevertheless, Dread the Forsaken is certainly on to something good with Unbound. However, future pursuits and refinement are necessary to lift the band above their peers.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Dread the Forsaken is certainly on to something good with Unbound. However, future pursuits and refinement are necessary to lift the band above their peers.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]