It was the now so long gone year of 1998. I was working in a place where I had some colegues that appreciated Metal music as well who showed me an album from a band I have never heard about. That time, after some time gone from the Metal music world due to the most important reason of my life – working my arse off to support my baby girl – I was going back to get to know new bands. It was a great of discoveries, I guess you all know how it works because to enjoy Metal music is something you learn with a network friends. who show you albums they like to cherish together. I was so fortunate to have many friends who did this to me. I will not tell all the bands I got to know that time,but The Haunted were one of them and, I have got to tell you, the experience was not that good because I was not into Extreme Metal. I have to say I did not like them back then.
Now, almost 30 years later, I receive The Haunted with “Songs of Last Resort,” an album that is released after an hiatus of nearly 8 years being 2017’s “Strength In Numbers” their last full-length. In my defence, this is now a totally different experience. Now the band’s music make sense to me and I can appreciate the album in a way I could not back then. You all know, enjoying Extreme Metal music is a kind of acquired taste.
From the very beginning the fan is welcomed the best way possible for a band like The Haunted; with a right musical punch in the face in the form of album warmer “Warhead,” a track that makes justice to its tittle. Fast, furious, and breathtaking, terms that fit perfectly to the senses of whom is listening to it. Interesting to know that Marco Aro’s voice sounds much more fit to Death Metal than to Thrash Metal, the alleged labeling to The Haunted. I guess that a hybrid of Thrash Metal with Death Metal would fit perfectly to the music I am hearing now as the instrumentals are Thrash Metal and vocals are Death Metal. The fan’s neck gets no refreshment until “To Bleed Out” that is a little bit more cadenced that the fast firing of the previous tracks. Pay close attention to the extremely careful and well-done instrumentals with guitars that are the same time very aggressive and melodic. A more attentive fan will notice some influences of Metallica here as in all the “Songs of Last Resort.” Following track “Unbound,” which is fast and groovy as hell, breaks again the fan’s neck with Hardcore and Motörhead inspired. A real blast from the start with very melodic guitar leads and licks. One of the most inspired track of the album with many shifts in tempo and mood. Drummer Adrian Erlandsson does a really great job here.
I bet no Extreme Metal fan will get a minute of real resting while listening “Songs of Last Resort.” It’s one blast and rapid fire after the other. Yes, there are slower tracks as “Collateral Carnage” whose guitar riff dos not let the fan stop headbanging. However, the are only slower in speed, because they keep the heavy spirit of the band. “Blood Clots,” for instance starts very moody with a cool strumming that soon is replaced by a strong and punchy guitar that opens the fan’s guts. It is slow, but heavy as hell.
It seems to me and to all The Haunted’s fans, for different reasons, that the wait was worth it. “Songs of Last Resort” is a hell of a well-done album with neaty instrumentals and an unbelievable heaviness.
The Haunted “Songs of Last Resort” will be released on May 30th via Century Media Records.
1. Warhead
2. In Fire Reborn
3. Death to the Crown
4. To Bleed Out
5. Unbound
6. Hell is Wasted on the Dead
7. Through the Fire
8. Collateral Carnage
9. Blood Clots
10. Salvation Recalled
11. Labyrinth of Lies
12. Letters of Last Resort
Watch “Warhead” official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!