Unleash The Archers – Phantoma

The year is 2004, and Power Metal has reached its peak as an art form. Bands like Sonata Arctica, Kamelot, and Blind Guardian have released their best work to date, and the future looks bright. You were either young and happy back then or just not born yet. Fast forward to 2024, and Power Metal has become the laughing stock of the Metal community. You either hate yourself or hate your job. However, amidst this decline, Unleash The Archers stands as one of the few Power/Prog Metal bands that still has something fresh to offer. With epic albums like Apex or Abyss, it keeps the flame alive. The real question is, can Phantoma beat these modern classics?

Phantoma takes the now common route of picking a bone with AI, and honestly, I couldn’t care less because the album is such a blast. Unleash the Archers has mastered the balance between sounding happy and accessible without veering into corniness (I’m looking at you, Hammerfall!). Phantoma isn’t afraid of being uplifting, even when its themes can feel dark for Power Metal standards. While most bands in this style slowly lean more and more into pop and folk territory, Unleash The Archers has been paying attention. It took a more electronic approach to the work this time. It’s almost as if all the extreme Metal we’ve had in the last three years has trickled down to more mainstream bands.

It’s obvious to say that everything sounds great, and the riffs are as catchy as you’d expect. However, it’s Slayes’ vocals that continue to be the backbone of the band’s style. Yes, Phantoma is darker, but those epic choruses shout, “Hang in there, the pain is almost gone now”. It’s hard to pick a highlight since I honestly enjoyed every track. However, as usual, there are some things you should know before you get your copy.

Phantoma is a riff festival, which means it’s a bit bloated and has many transitions and mood changes. If you like your Metal monolithic, then this might be a bit painful for you, but I encourage you not to be so dead inside yet. A minor complaint from a cat from the dirt like me is that the production is pretty—way too pretty—but those are just details.

Unleash The Archers keeps reviving a genre I buried a long time ago, along with many dreams, but they do it without being nostalgic or cheesy. They take themselves seriously enough to make you feel that Power Metal might still have a future.

Label: Napalm Records

Release date: 10 May, 2024

Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnleashTheArchers/

Country: Canada

Score: 4.0/5.0