Release Date: 10 January 2025
Song Count: 12
Duration: 44 minutes, 12 seconds
Rating: 9.2/10
Description:
Last month marked the first anniversary of the release of March Of The Unheard, the second album from Gothenburg-based band The Halo Effect, a band made up of former members of world-famous melodic death metal band In Flames. The stated motivation of the supergroup risen from the ashes was to bring back the pioneering sound of the "90's Gothenburg sound" that led the torch for practically all future melodeath metal to come, and March Of The Unheard is truly exemplary of that aim, living the essence of the genre in the most thorough way possible. And though The Halo Effect has had an overall shorter lifespan than the initial group that brought its members to success so far, only being around for 7 years compared to In Flames's 36, in terms of quality of musical output and giving it their all, it naturally manages to hold up an incredible fight and carry over the talents and strengths of its origins in its music.
The record is everything one could ask for in a melodic death metal album: intricate melodies and captivating musicality combined with deathly brutality and punches that do not hold back, as well as a thoroughly infectious and electric energy pulsing through every track. From complex and show-stopping guitar solos, to the way some tracks - especially "Conspire To Deceive" and "Forever Astray" - simply know how to start and end to instantly capture one's interest, all the way to the mainly growling vocals associated with metal acting as the right accompaniment to enhance it all yet simultaneously being able to switch into regular singing when the times call for it, all small aspects of the album simply work together so well that it is mind-blowing to simply witness with one's ears. It captures the magic behind melodic death metal perfectly, to the point where this would legitimately be the type of record I would show to someone if asked what made the particular subgenre so special to listen to.
Almost every track here has some sort of magnetic quality unique from the rest that builds up the grand structure of the dozen - the grooves and perceived song pace changes in "A Death That Becomes Us" that do not even require the need of outright tempo changes; the divine drums and production that starts and ends "Conspire To Deceive", a general booming opener that lasts an unmatchable first impression; the unbridled speed, brutality and consistency of "Detonate" that yet refuses to steer away from being as melodic as can be at the same time; the gradual and almost atmospheric opening of "Forever Astray" that then leads to one of the most unique tracks of the record unfolding, combined with the clean vocals in the chorus serving as a great contrasting force; the well-rounded and generally enjoyable sound of "The Burning Point", and the list goes on.
Truly glad to have at last found another album from this metal subgenre to attach onto, March Of The Unheard is easily one of the most captivating and fun listens I have had the pleasure of experiencing not just this year so far, but throughout the entire albumthon project. The fact that this album went just below my radar for so long is quite frankly a tragedy, because what ended up being hidden inside it were absolute musical gems - this thing was made by musicians who know their stuff and have been proven to be able to cook incredible metal music up, and it absolutely shows here. An incredible album all around, and one that is 100% recommended to give a shot if you like any sort of hard rock or metal music.