ALBUM REVIEW: Untaken – Pectora

Following on from the release of their second EP Redemption in 2017, PECTORA have finally released their debut full-length record UNTAKEN. The band hail from Denmark, and have been together since 2011, with their debut EP coming out in 2013 entitled Burgeon of Hate.

It is only apt then that the title track is the one to kick-start their first full length album. There is quite a big build up, the echoes of the guitar growing louder with each second, followed by a gentle but fast paced snare drum solo. The riffs pick up and the blast beats come into it, before everything goes into overdrive as the riffs become ultra-heavy. Vocalist Kenneth Jacobsen sets the tone with his powerful voice, and overall the track is a quality opening song.

The second track Collide picks the pace up even more. The riffs become much more complex and Jacobsen’s vocals become more aggressive, but really fits in well when the track is about giants and titans colliding. There is an essence of power metal in the track, though without any keyboards or symphonic sounds, just good old-fashioned classic metal instruments. During the solos there is definitely more of a generic heavy metal feel, and the riffs are skull crushing to really get you head banging.

Untaken does have a a couple of tracks which bring things down to earth in a gentler way. One of those tracks is Haunted Memory, which has more rhythmic riffs compared to the more extravagant ones heard earlier in the album. It has more of a metallic ballad to it rather than a death-defying number and shows the band can switch their sound where they need to, as well as keeping the listeners on their toes with the changes.

There are eight songs on Untaken, which is more than enough to get your fill of PECTORA. They have showcased what they are all about, and while there aren’t many tracks, the vast majority of them cross the five-minute mark, so there is a lot of music to get your teeth into. Overall, Untaken is a strong debut album. The introduction in the opening track sucks you in which is exactly what you want, and from start to finish it is a pleasure to listen to. If they continue with the way they have started, PECTORA will definitely be one band to keep an eye on over the next 12 months and certainly in years to come.

Rating: 8/10

Untaken is out now via Mighty Music. 

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