50-year-old Johnny Hedlund is a true death metal warrior. 30 years of Unleashed is no mean feat, and although death metal most likely hasn’t made him a millionaire, Hedlund and his fellow warriors battle on relentlessly.
Kicking off with an intro of Viking horns and then”Blood of Lies”, the opener from my favourite Unleashed album, Midvinterblot, the four Swedes send us a fair warning: They mean business on this sunny Friday afternoon. Only…Anders Schultz’s drums aren’t as ready as the band. A few minutes are wasted on the technical issues, and Hedlund has to improvise in front of the few thousand people, something which can suck the energy out of most bands. Not the perfect way to start a gig.
But, as I said, Hedlund and the rest of his Viking crew are warriors, and as the drums are back in order, Unleashed fire away with “Lead Us Into War”.
Although the rececption is warm, the old school death metal audience is a trifle reserved, and it takes most of the set before an acutal pit opens in front of the Pandemonium stage. Undeservedly, I’d say, because Unleashed unfold a dozen or so hammer effective songs. The Swedes are amazing when they unfold their more groovy material. “The Longships Are Coming” and “Stand Your Ground” stand out as particularly cool.
Approved gig – only major disappointment being that the title track and über-hit from Midvinterblot shines with its absence! Oh, what a shame!
]]>New album The Hunt For White Christ Out On October 26
The chief Vikings of Swedish death metal defending their throne!
The mighty UNLEASHED just released the first single “Lead Us Into War” off their upcoming masterpiece The Hunt For White Christ.
Watch the video right HERE!
“Unleashed at their darkest and most ambitious. Raise your horns and let the hammer fall – the hunt is on!”- LOUDWIRE“With THE HUNT FOR WHITE CHRIST Unleashed underscore their position as reliable standard-bearers of Swedish Death Metal.” – METAL HAMMER GERMANY
When it comes to Swedish Death Metal, the traditional Stockholm way and death metal per se, there is one band you have to mention: UNLEASHED! Formed in 1989 by vocalist / bass player Johnny Hedlund, UNLEASHED have been delivering supreme death metal from day one. Dealing with Viking traditions and values, and honing their craft, they have become extreme metal pioneers, musically and lyrically, inspiring legions of other bands with their sound. The Hunt For White Christ is the fourth album in the continued story line of the World of Odalheim and their Midgard warriors – a story authored by Johnny Hedlund himself, comprising of the past, present, and what Hedlund’s deems as the future of the Viking traditions and values. The album was recorded in the spring of 2018 at Chrome Studios, and does not simply mark the Swedes` 13th full-length album: it also solidifies the bands impact on history, paving the way to their 30th anniversary in 2019! Three decades of metal onslaught, and they have neither lost their bite, nor their love for pure death metal mayhem!
Johnny Hedlund about the new record: „On our way towards the bands 30th anniversary in 2019, comes the release of our 13th full length album, The Hunt For White Christ. The band is very much looking forward to meeting our Warriors all over the World on tours and festivals to hear your comments on the new album. And make no mistake, Odalheim will be ours! Let the hunt begin!Hail Odin!Johnny and the Boys”
Pre-Order The Hunt For White Christ HERE!
Tracklist:
1 Lead Us Into War
2 You Will Fall
3 Stand Your Ground
4 Gram
5 Terror Christ
6 They Rape The Land
7 The City Of Jorsala Shall Fall
8 The Hunt For White Christ
9 Vidaurgelmthul
10 By The Western Wall
11 Open To All The World
UNLEASHED are:
Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums
For more info on UNLEASHED go to:
]]>
The Chief Vikings of Swedish death metal defending their throne!
When it comes to Swedish Death Metal, the traditional Stockholm way and death metal per se, there is one band you have to mention: UNLEASHED! Formed in 1989 by vocalist / bass player Johnny Hedlund, UNLEASHED have been delivering supreme death metal from day one. Dealing with Viking traditions and values, and honing their craft, they have become extreme metal pioneers, musically and lyrically, inspiring legions of other bands with their sound.
The Hunt For White Christ is the fourth album in the continued story line of the World of Odalheim and their Midgard warriors – a story authored by Johnny Hedlund himself, comprising of the past, present, and what Hedlund’s deems as the future of the Viking traditions and values. The album was recorded in the spring of 2018 at Chrome Studios, and does not simply mark the Swedes` 13th full-length album: it also solidifies the bands impact on history, paving the way to their 30th anniversary in 2019! Three decades of metal onslaught, and they have neither lost their bite, nor their love for pure death metal mayhem!
Johnny Hedlund about The Hunt For White Christ:
„On our way towards the bands 30th anniversary in 2019, comes the release of our 13th full length album, “The Hunt For White Christ”. The band is very much looking forward to meeting our Warriors all over the World on tours and festivals to hear your comments on the new album. And make no mistake, Odalheim will be ours! Let the hunt begin!Hail Odin! Johnny and the Boys”
Napalm Records states:
„We are more than happy about the upcoming release of The Hunt For White Christ by the swedish Death Metal institution UNLEASHED. Beeing in business almost three decades, they proofed their standing and excellence to fans all over the world. Brace yourself for this brutal monument by the swedish chief vikings!“
Pre-Order The Hunt For White Christ HERE
Tracklist:
1 Lead Us Into War
2 You Will Fall
3 Stand Your Ground
4 Gram
5 Terror Christ
6 They Rape The Land
7 The City Of Jorsala Shall Fall
8 The Hunt For White Christ
9 Vidaurgelmthul
10 By The Western Wall
11 Open To All The World
Formats:
4 Page Digipack1 LP Gatefold BLACK
Digital Album
Deluxe Box: 4 Page Digipack, Thor Hammer Logo Pendant, Album Cover Flag & woven cut out Thorhammer/Logo arm patch & band photo card
1 LP Gatefold GOLD (100 copies)
1 LP Gatefold ICE BLUE (2000 copies)
Digipack & Album cover shirt bundle (US Webstore Only)
1 LP Gatefold BLACK & cover shirt bundle (US & World Webstore)
Members:
Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums
For more info on UNLEASHED go to:
]]>
If it comes to Swedish Death Metal in its traditional Stockholm-Style and Death Metal in general, there is one band you HAVE TO MENTION: UNLEASHED!
Formed back in 1989 by Johnny Hedlund, UNLEASHED have been delivering supreme death metal from day one!
After recording two demos the band released their legendary debut album Where No Life Dwells and toured Europe and the US with Morbid Angel. From this point UNLEASHED has become one of the biggest names in death metal worldwide. Dealing with Viking traditions and values they stepped up their game and became extreme metal trendsetters, musically and lyrically. UNLEASHED have toured the world with bands like Grave, Dismember, Entombed, Krisiun or Belphegor and became true masters of Death.
Now UNLEASHED rage on with their crucial crusade by signing with Napalm Records!
Johnny Hedlund on the signing:
“Warriors! Unleashed are proud to announce that we have signed a new recording deal with Napalm Records! Our 13th album is scheduled for recording in Chrome studios, in May 2018. We are very much looking forward to this new cooperation on our journey into the bands 30th anniversary (in 2019). Hail Odin!”
Be on the lookout for a brand new studio album in late 2018!
UNLEASHED are:
Johnny Hedlund – Bass, Vocals
Anders Schultz – Drums
Tomas Masgard – Guitars
Fredrik Folkare – Guitars
Discography:
Where No Life Dwells – 1991
Shadows in the Deep – 1992
Across the Open Sea – 1993
Victory – 1995Warrior – 1997
Hell’s Unleashed – 2002
Sworn Allegiance – 2004
Midvinterblot – 2006
Hammer Battalion – 2008
As Yggdrasil Trembles – 2010
Odalheim – 2012
Dawn of the Nine – 2015
Upcoming shows:
26.05.18 – 27.05.18 FR – Outch Extreme Festival
14.06.18 – 15.06.18 GER – With Full Force Festival
29.06.18 – 29.06.18 IT – Rock The Castle
10.08.18 – 10.08.18 GER – Party-San Open Air
11.08.18 – 11.08.18 CZ – Brutal Assault Festival
For more info on UNLEASHED visit:
https://www.facebook.com/unleashed
]]>For some reason, I am a huge fan of the Swedish death metal sound. The low tuned riffs in combination with the typical, sometimes almost danceable, groovy rhythms is something you can wake me up for. The first albums of Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, Cancer, Carnage, and Grave are blue prints for this genre. On the new album, World Inferno, Entrails just does what those bands did on their first album(s). There are no new elements, or anything you wouldn’t expect. For me that is the power of this new release. There is no need to mention a particular song, they are all good and the way old school Swedish death metal should sound like.
Perhaps some will say that it is just old wine in new bottles, but better good old wine in new bottles than new bad wine in old ones!
]]>