One of our underpaid interns told me that we had received an independent promo worth my full attention. Of course, I told them they were out of their minds and proceeded to cut them off without mercy because the Catto runs this site like the colonial powers used to run Africa—with a complete disregard for human decency. Either way, I gave Unhallowed Deliverance‘s Of Spectres and Strife a chance because the cover art looked legit (in Metal, always judge an album by its art). So, was it worth my time?
I did fall on my butt for a few seconds when I realized that these are actual professionals. Of Spectres and Strife is a strange blend of Tech Death and Deathcore that doesn’t make me want to hide being a metalhead out of embarrassment. It strikes a remarkable balance between complex and unplayable riffs and nasty breakdowns that make you do the Abbath face when they hit. It just feels right. It’s fascinating how someone can come up with so much “wanking” that also has a ton of groove. So, if you hate Tech Death more than you hate Country music, Unhallowed Deliverance might have your gateway drug here. In fact, if you’re a “core” fan, this album is your path to civilization and respect.
The guitar and bass work in Of Spectres is something that gives you proper vertigo. It’s reminiscent of a young Obscura (before it went full At the Gates). Is it just me, or does the bass in tracks like “They Will Eat Us Raw” and “We Slither” sound like Archspire‘s in Relentless Mutation? The vocal work and song structures make me think of Alkaloid, but with the capacity to edit properly. Yes, there are breakdowns, but they’re not abused as a resource to slow things down and add more textures to each track. Great, but what is there to complain about? This is, after all, a debut and an independent one; it’s a miracle it doesn’t sound like this (yes, some poor soul reviewed that for MER).
There are still deep Deathcore influences here, and that could alienate most Tech Death fans. Despite good songwriting flow, the breakdowns can be very Wormhole-like sometimes. I was astonished at how well produced this album was, but in the sense that it sounds like what you’d expect within the genre. Oh, and if you think drop basses are annoying, welcome to hell. I had a hard time adjusting to them, despite being so effective. The snobbish bastard in me feels dirty because they associate them with a more youthful mood.
All these are details; this is revelation-of-the-year material. It came from nowhere and hit me like a bag of rocks, and I don’t even like Deathcore. Of course, the band hasn’t reached maturity yet, but when it does, it’ll probably continue the German tradition of ridiculously technical music. How is it possible this band doesn’t have a label? Someone needs to get fired now!
Label: Self-Release
Release Date: May 10, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/unhalloweddeliverance/
Country: Germany
Score: a surprise so big, my butt is still recovering, or something between 3.5 and 4.0 for the posers
Metal Eclipse Reviews 
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