ALBUM REVIEW: Covenant – Unprocessed
Progressive metal has really come into its own in recent years. With a heavy roster of bands pushing metal’s most complex style to new and exciting pastures and the success of dedicated festivals like UK Tech-Fest and Complexity for example, to stand out in the crowd you have to have something special up your sleeve. Enter UNPROCESSED. With their third offering, Covenant, the German mob intend to build upon the foundations set by their first two records, but does this new offering really cement UNPROCESSED‘s place in modern progressive metal?
Roaring into life with the title track, the short and snappy Covenant showcases exactly what UNPROCESSED are about. A triple-pronged assault of palm muted riffing from the band’s three guitarists is the order of the day as the track pulls punches in quick succession whilst Manuel Gardner Fernandes unleashes his dynamic range of vocal barks and soaring cleans. It’s a solid start to the record.
If the title track gave an appetiser of what to expect from this new offering then the main course certainly doesn’t disappoint. Haven kicks things up a gear through dazzling lead guitar play, thick and heavy djent-esque tones from bassist David Levy and stunning vocal deliveries from Fernandes. Similarly, Ghilan stands as a complete earworm thanks to the slick and mind-blowing interchanges between guitarists Manuel Gardner Fernandes, Christoph Schultz and Christopher Talosi. Their efforts here never become overwhelming, instead they bounce off each other effortlessly to create a menacing wall of riffing that allows the complex lead work to soar. Indeed it’s the spine of their soundscape and with this track in particular, it excels to a phenomenal standard.
For all their groove however, there is a subtlety hidden beneath Covenant‘s vast musical depths. Hidden below the depths of their gargantuan riffing, there is a certain ambience swirling in their sonic maelstrom which really adds a strong level of depth to the record. Take Malleable for example. A track that really pushes the complicated lead work to the forefront, hidden behind it are FALLUJAH-esque atmospherics that really hammer home the melodic tones that UNPROCESSED are pushing. It works wonderfully and really adds a level of immersion to their sound. This atmospheric ambience is ever-present on Covenant, sinking hooks in abundance. From the sinister opening tones of Millenium that create a eerie sense of dread to the gorgeous piano-led melodies found on the explosive The Division, it’s a dynamic that is becoming increasingly popular within progressive music and here, UNPROCESSED have utilised it brilliantly.
As Covenant enters its crucial second half there are sadly a handful of moments where UNPROCESSED stumble over the hurdles. The Mirror presents itself with a more electronic vibe and whilst it showcases their melodic edge in buckets and Fernandes once again impresses with his clean vocals, the placement of the track feels strange. It feels like a track out of place, sandwiched between two tracks of monolithic power, and it buckles the flow of the record somewhat. Also, the ambient-drenched closer, Exuent, feels rather subdued and a tepid way to bring Covenant to its conclusion; especially given that preceding track, Exhale, packs enough power to level a city.
Niggles aside, there is no doubting that Covenant is an immensely strong release from UNPROCESSED. At the crucial third album stage, it is essential that the band cement their sound and really demonstrate their skill and on this record, they have achieved just that. Packing technical skill, enormous riffs and gorgeous melodic passages in abundance, this is a solid effort from the German quintet, one which will surely solidify their place in modern progressive metal.
Rating: 8/10
Covenant is out now via Long Branch Records.
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