Albums

Album Review: The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard

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Posted on 2 weeks ago

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Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM

Swedish melodic death metal supergroup The Halo Effect continue to demonstrate their ever-evolving artistry while staying true to the melodic death metal roots that their fans have come to love for striking new release March of the Unheard

Now as ever with fusions of influential bands it’s easy to guess as to which way an album with sway so as album opener Conspire to Deceive fires through with almost a complete tick list of positives it almost feels at fate has drawn me to this which is all but confirmed by the time Detonate has concluded

A melodic drift briefly weaves into a thunderous, catchy offering with Our Channel To The Darkness easily taking the title of highlight track of the album, the Pain like electronics and combination of soundscapes make for a guaranteed repeat session.

By the time Cruel Perception and What We Become have come and gone its apparent this offering has found its steady grove with tracks complementing and effortlessly amalgamating into a collective that aesthetically is difficult to tear away from especially with constructions such as the theatrical instrumental The Curse of Silence which serves as a phenomenal introduction to the album’s title track March of the Unheard.

Forever Astray provides a short but powerful shot of dual vocals and I can easily see this a future live favourite, great riffs and providing my own personal preferences when it comes to the band’s other known projects.

Guitarist Niclas Engelin comments:

“We are all suckers for melancholic melodies in an up-tempo beat, and add some harmonies to that, and we get a beautiful Halo song. Working with the mighty Gothenburg Marching band “Göta Lejon” just blew our minds both in the studio and live… damn they are powerful!!”

Between Directions incorporates a classical style which is adapted nicely with more of a narrative style which works incredibly well and sets up A Death That Becomes Us to provide some nostalgic moments.

The concluding duo of heavier output The Burning Point and woefully atmospheric instrumental Coda further demonstrate The Halo Effect’s collective experience not only musically but structurally too and I feel that with this latest offering they have shed some of the shackles of the Supergroup label to forge into a more fulfilling directional path.

Shortly after the album´s release, the band will embark on their first ever headline tour across Europe. Industrial outfit and label mates PAIN will be special guest on this tour and to round up this great package, melo-death shooting stars from Finland, BLOODRED HOURGLASS, will join as support.