Review by Gary Spiller for MPM
A futuristic studio offering from a band seemingly from the future themselves. Hailing from British Columbia – sandwiched ‘twixt the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean – rapidly rising metallers Unleash The Archers is a melding of styles as divergent as their homelands.
To their nucleus of power metal add considerable servings of traditional heavy metal, latter day progressive elements and a slice of leaning towards pop. An incredible metalliferous draught: a mellifluous elixir to soothe the soul.
With a career dating back to formation in late 2007, spanning five albums prior to this storming release, UTA have, until lately, somehow evaded myself. That is until an invitation to the Rockharz Festival out in Germany was received; sitting in a friends’ conservatory we picked out an interesting looking band name from the festival’s roll call. Sometime later we were still there, transfixed, as their expansive back catalogue revealed itself track by impressive track.
The follow-up to 2020’s much-lauded ‘Abyss’ UTA’s sixth long-player ‘Phantoma’ is a no holds barred concept album, based in sci-fi perspective, which turns face towards the advent of AI and its firm grasp upon humanity with a twist. The actual utilization of AI during the writing process, filming, and production entwines itself, like a voracious climbing shrub, with electronic components that further enhance a razor-sharp despatch.
The album’s narrative centres about a Phase 4 / Network Tier 0 unit – model A – colloquially known as Phantoma – and recounts, in the not so far away dystopian setting of earth, the challenges of the electronic programming of AI gaining capacity for feelings and sensations.
Like the initial chapters of a fine novel thus album opening track ‘Human Era’ sets a tone for what is to come. Barren, austere dystopian tracts, worked by servile robots, are all that remains as planetary post eco-collapse humanity clings to survival. The craft in the lyrics is strong and imagery abounds, a beautiful power all the more stronger when coupled with the stunning vocals of Brittney Slayes. Her quadrumvirate of colleagues – consisting of guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Kingsley (harsh and clean vocalists respectively) along with drummer Scott Buchanan and bassist Nick Miller – are the perfect alloy of strength and intricacy. A keyed outro is redolent, in part, of early Jean-Michel Jarre, the AI rears above the horizon.
The main subject is introduced in the blazing metal of ‘Ph4/NT0mA’. Questioning and cogitating upon the futility of precarious existence “No more holding to the past, the future in front of my eyes” sings Slayes. Sweeping across the unprosperous landscapes the stampede has begun; pulsing one way then the next before detonating upon the strings of Truesdell and Kingsley in an expansive mid-section.
Strongarm symphonic speed metal, beloved by the likes of Amaranthe, takes the reigns in ‘Buried In Code’ coupled with the prog undertones of Iron Maiden’s ‘The Evil That Men Do’ – in fact come to mention it this ten-track opus is close to drawing a modern-day parity with ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’. Answers are sought from within; “Line by line I’m ready to change my life” rallies Slayes.
Crepuscular shadows flicker as the unlit intensifies in the darkened tones of the rapid-fire ‘The Collective’ replete with six-stringing that surely receives the full approval of Malmsteen. Herein a wrestling of conscious leaves one wondering, and eager to discover, which way Phantoma will elect to choose.
Through the static and crackling airwaves comes the haunting prog majesty of the first single ‘Green & Glass’. Unleash The Archers have a considerable breadth to their spectrum of talents; there is no dispute as to why Napalm Records snapped this quintet up a decade or so ago.
The synth-doused ‘Gods In Decay’ is coruscant in its radiance as a faltering, deluded humanity is uncovered for its falsehoods. Questions, as the track soars high above, surround. “I am not an equal just a slave, and my hope has come undone” emotes Slayes with Phantoma lost in a spiralling quandary.
Through the eddying smoke of chaos comes a piercing ray of light, ‘Give It Up Or Give It All’ is a power ballad of hopeful rallying expectancy that ebbs and flows as waves upon the sandy shore. It’s time, of that there is no question. The breadth within Unleash The Archers continues to broaden track upon track as the intricacies of synergies are explored.
With a raw bloodletting battle cry ‘Ghosts In The Midst’ leaves no uncertainty that the end game looms large. Miller’s bass reverberates large as Slayes’ crystalline vocals shine brightly contrasting with Truesdell’s harsh lines. “Only the fallen know their faces. Once they have found you, know that there’s nowhere you can run” chills to the bone.
Repairing vengeance is sought beneath blackened veils within the rousing ‘Seeking Vengeance’; listen here to discover if Phantoma accepts its inhumanity. The hammerfall of triumphant realisation and action of the stomp of ‘Blood Empress’ is a crescendo of a finale. Personal sacrifice for a larger causation.
With the subject of AI and its influences upon life as we know it increasing in prominence this is a bold, bold subject to tackle. Immersing the concept within a sci-fi environment with metallic overtures is an achievement. The utilization of AI in this project adds a perspective to the ongoing debate, much food for thought and consumption.
It’s incredibly rare that an album can be read very much in the way one does a fine novel. Unleash The Archers have achieved this lofty feat with the ten tracks of ‘Phantoma’. This is one to challenge and entertain simultaneously; personally I cannot wait until I catch them live at Rockharz 2024!
Unleash The Archers are:
Brittney Slayes – Vocals
Scott Buchanan – Drums
Grant Truesdell – Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley – Guitar, Vocals
Nick Miller – Bass
Unleash The Archers online:
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