UNMOORED „Kingdoms of greed”

I read a review of this album just after its release in late 2001 which compared it to some of Hypocrisy's faster material. This isn't far from the truth, but it's not paying Unmoored their full dues as overall, this is better than anything Hypocrisy has ever released. It's in your face from the opening track and doesn't get out of it until the last notes ring out. The production is particularly brutal; having been recorded at Studio Abyss, but it still has a raw edge to it and therefore doesn't compromise the songs in any way. The songs are a mixture between thrash and death metal, but they don't stay the same for very long as various tempos are present in all of the songs and a touch of melody is never far away. By adopting an approach whereby Unmoored have put plenty of ideas into each song, the listener is never bored, track 3 “Self – invoked” being a good example of this.

What makes this album stand out for me is the different styles of singing employed by the vocalist. He is not afraid to try out some clean voices which will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up to attention on “Final State part 2” which is one of the best songs ever written, and I don't say that lightly. For the black metal fans amongst you, “Torchbearer” is a beast of a song with an opening blast which will make you jump for the repeat button rather quickly just to check if you heard what you thought you heard. I would also like to give a special mention to the drummer who is superb on this album. He switches pace effortlessly and is always there to provide a solid backbone to the rabid guitars.

I can't quite put my finger on what makes this album so special. It is now nearly four years old, but it still sounds fresh and relevant each time I listen to it. How many albums can be described like that? As it was released on a relatively small label, not many of you will have even heard of its existence which is a crime as it's one of the best examples of its genre (whatever that might be). If you see a copy of it anywhere, grab it quickly and be amazed at what Unmoored have to offer, otherwise you'll have missed out on an important part of the scene which will soon be Unmooreds for the taking. Having now signed to Code666, I look forward to hearing what they have to offer in the future.