Unleashed

Victory (Century Media)
by Chris Dick

The Vikings were known for their courage in adversity ,and Sweden’s Unleashed are no different. Victory, the band’s fourth LP on Century Media shows the band staying true to their original formula, while also branching out a tad. Upon first listen, the most notable difference is the vocals of frontman/ founder Johnny Hedlund. This is particularly true on the opener, “Victims of War,” in which Hedlund comes across as rather hardcore. However, old fans of Unleashed need not fret as he treads the same ground as he did on past endeavors. The scorching “Legal Rapes” and “In the Name of God” showcase a rather masterful use of wording around the kaleidoscope of riffing. Some songs sound familiar, like “Scream Forth Aggression” with its “Before the Creation of Time” galloping riffs and vocals pattern. A band who have never swayed to and fro upon the countless trends and fads within the metal underground. Victory is hopefully a step in the right direction for a band with one of the most loyal fanbases. Taste defeat!