Unforged - 2021 - Eye For An Eye

(39:00; Fastball Music)






















Track list:
1. Serial Killer 5:47
2. Eye for an Eye 5:46
3. Antihero 5:34
4. Prior 2:49   
5. Scream for Me 5:47
6. Unforged 4:44
7. Fight for Your Life 5:03
8. I'm Away 3:30

Line-up:
Chrys - vocals
Thommy Scar - guitars
Mika Alva - guitars
Chris Anthrope - bass
Nico Alva  - drums


German band Unforged was established as recently as 2019, and have obviously had the major part of their band development so far while the historical pandemic have made such undertakings a tad more problematic than usual. This fall the band was ready with their debut album "Eye for an Eye", which was released through German label Fastball Music.

While I see the band are self-described as a modern metal band, I would beg to disagree ever so slightly in that regard. To my ears at least this debut album has a distinct retro feel to it, of the kind that begs for a Bay Area reference. Or, in other words, I regard this album as one exploring a rather classic variety of thrash metal.

Chugging riff cascades, start and stop staccato riff patterns and circulating riff driven arrangements with a strong groove quality to them are used in liberal amounts throughout here, occasionally with gentler, atmospheric laden passages added in. From slow, meaty riffs to tight and chugging cascades and more up-tempo runs, the dynamics are functional and effective. That Unforged at times sounds a bit too much like classic era Metallica may not be to everyone's taste, but personally I don't mind that at all. If not for any other reason than that it's been a while since Metallica themselves have managed to create material of that kind with that sound, and then it's a good thing that others continue exploring that specific style and sound. Unforged will also add some more aggressive parts here and there, in a manner which reminds me ever so slightly about another classic metal band from yesteryear, namely Nuclear Assault.

An element more unique to Unforged, in this specific context, are the handful or so of different vocal styles used throughout. Ranging from light toned, clean vocals to a gruff spoken like vocal James Hetfield style and over to dark, raspy barked and shouted vocals with more of a hardcore sheen to them, and some occasional growls too. The latter two aspects of the vocal styles used does give many of the songs a darker and more primal character than if more regular vocals had been used, which does add a more distinct atmosphere to this album experience as a whole.

"Eye for an Eye" strikes me as a solid debut album by a promising band. While not exploring a modern variety of metal as stated on their Facebook page in my opinion at least, I suspect many of those with an interest and a passion for thrash metal in general and an old school based variety of the style in particular will find this album quite the interesting production to explore. A solid album, and then especially for the right audience.

Olav M. Björnsen, October 2021

Links:
https://unforged.de/
http://www.fastball-music.de/

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