Review UNANIMATED ‘Victory in Blood’

In a world that is full of animations it is bands like Unanimated that reflects the oldschool spirit of heavy metal. The Stockholm-based outfit started in the end of the ‘80s and premiered with ‘In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead’ in 1993. A sophomore album followed before the band went on a long hiatus that ended in 2007. 16 years after having unleashed the debut, Unanimated released with ‘In the Light of Darkness the long awaited third album and in case you though the waiting time for next longplayer will be shorter you might have been disappointed. While other bands follow a 1–3-year release rhythm it took a bit longer for the Stockholm metal veterans to work on new material.

‘Annihilation’, an EP in 2018, created extra appetite for a next longplayer which will be ‘Victory in Blood’. On December 3^rd, 2021 the release will feature twelve songs that showcase harsh and savage metal.

‘Victory in Blood’ is a brutal and hellish album that starts with the title track. Album and song don’t give listeners some time to slowly get into the album. Instead, the start is furious and massive. It’s a full blast start into Unanimated’s fourth album, and it is just the beginning.

‘Seven Mouths of Madness’ is the next step into the musical hellfire that ends with ‘The Poetry of the Scared Earth’. With all the heaviness and musical brutality, plus a focus on high pace songs, Unanimated at the same time crosses more than once a six-minute running time for individual tracks. The mentioned closer is a song that doesn’t live by pure speed. Kept in moderate pace it is more of the devilish groove that creates a special atmosphere and intensity.

‘Victory in Blood’ is a dark album, and it feels like everything that built-up during the last 12 years was processed, channeled and found a spot on the new album. Unanimated is reanimated and ‘Victory in Blood’ is the workpiece that showcases a band, that plays well-crafted metal with savvy and raw power. Let’s see if we must wait for another decade to welcome album number five but at least for now, fans have some thrilling stuff to explore.