Let the battle begin as the Swedish melodic death metal of The Unguided is back in full force. The band has recently released a colossal album full of fantastical battles, heroic warriors, and epic tales, “And The Battle Royale.” This record is the first for the band with new vocalist Jonathan Thorpenberg after the departure of Roland Johansson last year and it seems they have not missed a beat.
The new album has the band continuing to do what they do best with heavy guitar riffs, huge melodies, and majestic synths. “Death’s Sting” kicks things off with blistering guitars from Roger Sjunnesson and driving rhythms from bassist Henric Liljesand and drummer Richard Schill before drifting into a soaring melody. Vocally the brutal screams of Richard Sjunnesson contrast well with the pure power of newcomer Thorpenberg especially on tracks like “Legendary” and “Manipulate Fear.” “Forces of Nature” takes on a heavier feel while “King’s Fall” is a bit lighter musically with an outstanding hookline and great synthesizers that add to the grandeur of the song.
With “And The Battle Royale,” The Unguided sound better than ever and should continue their march toward success in the world of melodeath.
