Spoiler: This is already my “Album of the Year”

    In 2019, it was revealed that Candian Power Metal Band Unleash the Archers were releasing a new EP. “Explorers” was a bombastic two-track EP featuring a totally different sound from the previous release “Apex”. With Awakening and Northwest Passage going almost viral on Youtube Reactors’ channels, it was no doubt this band is continually growing in more ways than one. Apex is arguably one of the best Metal Records of the past decade. The writing of this band and collective creativity seems to progress exponentially with every record. “Apex” was mountains ahead in quality of “Time Stands Still”.  Northwest Passage showed immense composure and maturity. For a band with terrible luck in bassists and the tough road of being a vastly underrated opening band, these guys don’t seem to give up. It is no wonder why their ever-growing fan base is salivating at the anticipation of “Abyss”. I know I was.

    “Abyss” is a heart-pounding journey from “Apex” through a mysterious path to outer space. It begins with the tame opener Waking Dream, again showing a different side to the band. There’s something more relaxed and comfortable about this entire record, making the slow builder intro Waking Dream a perfect opening to the wormhole. As we descend into the first single Abyss, we hear the effortless blend of Speedy Power Metal, 80’s synthesizers, and effortless soaring vocals from Brittney. This track is one of my top ten tracks of 2020, and maybe even of all time. Its catchiness is addictive in a rhythmic sense, but also lyrically. Power Metal is one of those genres that strives in sing-along choruses, and this album is packed with them.  Abyss is a track deep with meaning and is reminiscent of the popular Awakening. I find the parallels between their records so fascinating and seamless. It’s not short of Brittney’s insane high notes and contrasted low Alto-centric epics, melodic guitars, and powerful driving drums from veteran Scott Buchanan. It’s just an absolutely solid track that I could put on repeat and drift into a dream.

    Through Stars is a track I never expected from UTA, but one I desperately needed in their catalog. It is one of the slowest and smoothest tracks I have heard from the band. It builds, drives, breaks down and is overall super mellow. There is something about the emotion on this track that just hits me right in the gut. It’s reminiscent of Heart’s harmonies and melodies while keeping a rhythmic Queensryche feel. Brittney nails this song in her lower range and shows of nearly perfect diction. This song is a slow burner, and it’s just a perfect change of pace. The guitar solo enunciates the emotions in this one, a throwback to the 1970s and 1980s melodic guitar playing. I expect nothing less from Andrew and Grant, but this surpasses expectations and floats so smoothly. It’s a staggering contrast from the next track that you just have to hear to believe.

    Onto Track Four; Legacy. I have witnessed brilliant tracks from Metal over twenty-seven years of existence. Tracks like Devin Townsend’s Deadhead and Kingdom, Iron Maiden’s Wasted Years, Dream Theater’s Pull Me Under, and many more come to mind that have just blown me away. I find epic masterpieces like this when I least expect it,  Legacy is one of those songs that made every hair on my body pretty much rise in applause. The use of arpeggios and sweeps and general notation in this song is shockingly good. Drummer Scott Buchanan truly shines on this track from blast beats to swing beats and masterful fills. This song doesn’t build, it explodes. Dare I say it’s the most epic track of the year. Where it lacks in catchiness, it picks up in immense emotion as they search in the vastness of space for the Shadow Guide. However, upon first listen, this song strikes me as a power ballad in disguise, and god knows there’s nothing wrong with that. This song shows the dynamite of talent coming from every member of this dark horse Power Metal band. Andrew is shockingly fast and accurate on this track with dueling brother Grant. The guitars beat the hell out of anything I’ve heard since Devin Townsend’s “Empath”. As for the vocals, I am a complete vocal nerd, and this song is a requiem of multi-layering of vocals. Brittney mentioned exploring “the Brittney choir”, and you get a taste of it on this perfect song. The mastery of vocal lines and harmonies in Legacy beats any female vocalist of the decade. It is sure to encapsulate every fiber of your senses, sending complete chills through my body upon first listen. The use of notes picked from the arpeggios into a smooth behind-the-beat powerful vocal is one of the most virtuosic talents I have ever heard. I didn’t expect a Prog Metal track with blast beats from them, but it is everything I have ever wished for in a song.

    It is hard to follow up such a table-turning bombastic song like Legacy, in my opinion. But, the band continues to awe with Return to Me, aptly named. It returns, ironically to their Extreme days with always amazing multi-harmonic growls from Grant, in contrast with ever-soaring vocals. This track is epic, even by Power Metal standards. The speed of this band is ungodly. It’s a huge departure from the rest of the album in a big way as it lacks synths. It’s just so raw and angry and driving as they face the “Space Matriarch?”. Then, there’s the jaw-dropping single of Soulbound. This track, in my opinion, is unlike anything we’ve heard from this band yet. It is eloquent and so floaty, almost painting a dreamscape with the brilliant vocals alone. The high note, in the shocking harmonic range, just proves Brittney has absolutely no limits with her voice. I have never heard anything like this. It’s just such a powerful Single with some of the catchiest lines from the band. The tightness of this band is always staggering, but Soulbound is a whole new level. Scott’s fills on this song cemented him as one of my top three drummers. This track is just effortless, passionate, and mesmerizing. I cannot get enough of the melodic guitar lines on this one.

    Faster Than Light awes with more pounding and driving speed with Dragonforce riffs, the classic opening scream, and composition that proves Malmsteen was always overrated. This song is going to be a favorite of the fans, with a catchy “escapist” chorus, and absolutely epic verses. In typical Unleash the Archers fashion, it breaks down and showcases the neoclassical brilliance of this band. It’s just heart pounding and so solid.  The Wind That Shapes the Land signals an ending of the battle between the Brothers and the Matriarch, signaling a victory is imminent. It’s a back and forth battle, a true throwback to the epic thriller General of the Dark Army. Again, the range of this vocalist is just head-shakingly large. The classification of Alto is hardly appropriate. They should make a new class for Slayes. This song uses so many voices and octaves. The changes, the timing, the building into a less catchy but epic chorus is so well composed. The bridge is one of my favorite parts of this record as well, almost a breathing section into insane guitar solos. It’s a song that feels as though it could go on forever, but also ends much too soon. This is one of the most interesting and unique songs I have ever heard.

    I am all in for a damn good sing-along, especially in Power Metal, and Carry The Flame, is such an 80’s jam in the best way. It starts out super catchy and slow-building, maybe even modestly holding back. The soothing voice of Brittney is jolted away as Andrew comes in with immense power and tone on the second verse. His vocals are a nice edition, but I desperately hope this is just a single feature track. The harmonizing is brilliant on this track, but I find the live harmonization of Brittney and Andrew to be lacking live. As it should be, she is an impossible act to follow. This is the most fun track on the album, and pretty sentimental, but it’s not my favorite UTA track. I feel like it’s more of a bonus track than a final product number. But, I am sure those who were lucky enough to score the Earbook find out how this song ties into the concept.

    The worst part of the album is that it inevitably ends. But, it ends perfectly with the closing track Afterlife.  The track begins uncharacteristically with an orchestral suite done by one of Slayes’ favorite composers. It moves beautifully into a typical Archers sing along with epic booming drums. It’s a sad track but also uplifting, knowing that the Immortal is finally put to rest after centuries. I really like this track overall and find it such a soothing Fantastical track, touching on the Fantasy themes so wonderfully. It’s a closing track, but we are still left with so many questions and wondering if this is truly the end of the story. According to the band, it is. But, where will we go next?

There is no ego on this record. There is nothing pretentious or overreaching. It’s just amazing, clean, heavy, balanced, Power Metal with nostalgia. However, to some long time fans and listeners Abyss is a very world spinning change, but it’s a change we needed for one of the worst years this planet has ever seen. The light and positivity as well as the themes of togetherness and joining to conquer something are very appreciated. I feel like this is a Legacy of a record to be passed on from generation to generation. It is a quintessential Power Metal album. It signifies the stamp of uniquity Unleash the Archers has imprinted upon this century of metal. I can’t wait to hear more.