Unprocessed: Seizing Independence
It takes a special collection of people to be deemed as pioneers and visionaries in a generation crammed with talented musicians but German quartet UNPROCESSED have carved their own impressive niche as they continue to innovate and push the boundaries of metal. 2022’s Gold album was received with a rapturous applause as the band ventured into a new, exciting direction, leaving their firmly embedded djent roots behind them in favour of a more melodic but equally as impressive output. Whilst many expected something as dextrous and adventurously creative, few anticipated what was to come in the form of their fifth, full-length release …and everything in between.
“This one was super fluid and came together very naturally” explains frontman Manuel Gardner Fernandes. “We had just come off tour and started immediately writing stuff, I was getting kinda bored of the previous record. I think a lot of people were surprised when we released the first single, Thrash, as they weren’t expecting the heaviness but it felt like the necessary next step. We didn’t really push it in that direction, it just turned out the way it did. You have a lot more freedom being an independent band and not feeling like you have to please someone.”
Manuel has been lauded as one of modern metal’s most exciting musicians, his ability to unleash mind-boggling fret-based acrobatics can be a joy to behold, particularly in a live environment. Whilst his bandmates pretty much give him free rein to let his creative juices run wild, he does appreciate their input along the way. “A lot of the process this time was just me sitting in my studio, in front of my computer. I would put the basic song structures together, share the songs with the boys and they would try to add a bit of flavour. They really let me just do my thing on this one and were really supportive. There were only a couple of tracks where I got a bit stuck in the middle, others were finished in a few hours! I’m always writing and it’s handy to go back through ideas to give you some form of inspiration. Lore actually stemmed from a demo riff I’ve had since 2015. I often find there are times when I don’t have my guitar with me so I’m like humming melodies into my phone trying not to look stupid.”
For most musicians the thought of performing technically challenging guitar riffs whilst simultaneously combining vocal work which ventures into both extremes of the spectrum would fill them with utter dread. Manuel seems to have got these abilities nailed down to a fine art but sometimes he impresses himself at how composed he can be when he hits the stage. “I haven’t quite figured that one out yet! Usually a lot of practicing and rehearsing as a band for a few weeks prior. Touring can be super exhausting both mentally and physically so I’m looking to get back into sports before we tour again. When I first started juggling both guitar and vocals it was super challenging but now I relish that challenge, pushing myself to write more intricate parts. I’m a little nervous playing material from the new album as there are a lot of variations in style. I will have to refresh my memory on some of the really difficult parts I wrote!”
2024 could prove to be a pivotal landmark in the evolution of UNPROCESSED with their calendar already being quickly filled with dates supporting the resurgent TESSERACT alongside the ever-frenetic spectacle of THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS as well as a considerable headline run of their own which will give them a plentiful opportunity to bring a large portion, if not all of this fresh and exciting material out on the road. It will be an intriguing prospect to see whether the tracks that were a staple of their previous bouts of touring will stand the test of time or be bestowed a rest in favour of showcasing this new and expansive era from one of the most intriguing prospects to grace the field of rock and metal in quite some time.
…and everything in between is out now via self-release.
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