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April 2024

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The Unity: The Unity

Melodic Heavy Metal

4.0/5.0

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SPV/Steamhammer Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 03.05.2017

Call it some melodic metal math. What do you get when you merge some band members from Gamma Ray with those from Love.Might.Kill.? The Unity, a new band created by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehre (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar). They band is completed with members from Love.Might.Kill., another of Ehre's projects: vocalist Gianba Manenti, guitarist Stef E, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen.

The Unity

As for The Unity sound, think less Gamma Ray power metal and more Love.Might.Kill.'s melodic heavy metal with a hard rock groove. Most every song her bristles with bold and brisk riffage and a tight rhythm section delivering both heaviness and brisk pacing. Then those same songs are salted with powerful guitar solos. Rise And Fall, God Of Temptation, and Never forget easily demonstrate that trio of elements.

A keyboard layer is present, tempering and accenting the arrangements with synth orchestration. Also, at times, the keyboards lead or introduce a song as with Never Forget, Firesign, Killer Instinct, and the piano framed by orchestration in Always Just You, one of the best songs here.

After these things, the compositions are wrapped in melody and harmony, from the guitar lines to the vocal arrangements, and that aforementioned hard rock groove. When that latter element rises from the mix, you get the killer song No More Lies, easily my favorite song of the album. Finally, and to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Gianba Manenti's vocal style. To me he sounded everything from raspy to grizzly to screamo across the album. But there were exceptions in the two favorite songs mentioned earlier, No More Lies and Always Just You.

With little doubt, The Unity's debut album is a strong start for the band. Exceptional musicianship combined with equally powerful songwriting results in a large platter of bristling and brisk melodic heavy metal. Recommended.

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

With little doubt, The Unity's debut album is a strong start for the band. Exceptional musicianship combined with equally powerful songwriting results in a large platter of bristling and brisk melodic heavy metal. Recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]