Unholy – New Life Behind Closed Eyes

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Syracuse, New York’s UNHOLY unleashes a variety of heavy hitting attacks all bundled up into one big knockout punch! The raw, aggressive, loud, and in your face message that UNHOLY spreads to the masses is done with such power and authority that it’s hard not to chant along. The band has really created hype, and their loyal followers are soon to increase with their 2009 Prosthetic Records release, New Life Behind Closed Eyes. UNHOLY has expanded their sound and the band really uses the low end effectively. Accompanied with that are plenty of massive pickslides, death metal riffs, unique layers of melody, and crunching distortion blasts. What really makes UNHOLY so great is the band’s musical direction, which I’m sure will continue to grow. Upon listening to New Life Behind Closed Eyes, you can just feel that the band is bringing the roots with them in this modern age, and have spiced it up with even more pure, raw, and unfiltered aggression.

Songs such as “Into The Flesh Of Another” give a full blast of raw power and energy. From start to finish, UNHOLY delivers the pure and unfiltered brutality. The intro gives the instant headbang that begins UNHOLY’s movement. Not letting you go, a massive pick slide keys the verses that gallop away in a very catchy structure. Around midpoint, the guitars attack with the low end hitting both the chugs and the opens, and UNHOLY tops it off with a squealing guitar solo. Oh yeah, baby. Closing the song at a pounding pace, the band leaves you breathless.

Moving forward, “Behind The Veil Of Darkness” gives another straight with no chase metal attack. The intro again shows off how UNHOLY can uniquely use the low end and continuously build it up. Blasting into the verses, UNHOLY ferociously gets to business with an undeniable rhythm. But when the chorus hits, a massive melody will move you as vocalist Billy Price screams the message. Hold on to something tight, because when the band sets you up for the breakdown, all hell is about to be unleashed. But this breakdown is special. Stomping chugs match with massive distortion blasts making for the double trouble heavy hitting. But wait, “Behind The Veil Of Darkness” sure ain’t done because you’ve got to turn up the guitar solo – didn’t see that coming, eh? Boy it sure is a soaring lead, and those bends give the song such textures. UNHOLY closes the song on those big breakdown notes and leave in a strong moment. Once again you are breathless.

Simply put, UNHOLY delivers the heat and is not backing down. What continues to intrigue me is how UNHOLY takes those traditional elements we all have respect for and warp it with their own vision. These guys are out to be heard, and that they will. UNHOLY definitely helps me restore the spirit within the respective genres of hardcore and metal, and also helps me restore the spirit that music still has a meaningful message. Hell, New Life Behind Closed Eyes kind of gives that vibe of a classic hardcore album from back in the day, blasted at full volume and kids rushing to buy the 7”. And also keep in mind the absolutely eye catching artwork by Aeron Alfrey – this release gives the whole package. And for only a band’s second full length, that means a lot. Much respect for keeping it real!!

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