By the hammer of Thor the Norse Gods of Death Metal are back with album number ten. Few could foresee the longevity that Unleashed have enjoyed since the release of their now ‘cult’ “Revenge” demo and twenty years on and still they are at the forefront of the Death Metal genre.  

For anyone who has an interest in Death Metal will always hold a place in their heart for the likes of Entombed, Carnage, Dismember, Grave, Unleashed and so on, as they really were at the sharp end of the Swedish domination of Death Metal that effectively shaped so much of what we now call extreme music. Like many of their contemporises Unleashed have refused to change or bow to what is considered popular choosing instead to produce music as they see fit, and damn the commercial consequences.

It should therefore come as no surprise that “As Yggdrasil Trembles” is instantly recognisable as Unleashed. Of course Johnny Hedlund’s vocals are a trademark as is the whole Norse mythology influenced lyrics, but it is perhaps the bands effortless way of producing their music with such an old school ethos and sound which stands them apart from the pretenders to their crown. After all a whole host of bands have tried to reproduce the intensity and grandeur the likes of Unleashed seem to create with ease, and it always seems contrived and forced.  

Lets also be objective, like so many of the bands from the golden generation of the Stockholm scene Unleashed have taken the same formula of writing records into every one of their previous nine albums. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it sort of springs to mind and “As Yggdrasil Trembles” is no different, but what these guys don’t know about turning out top notch Death Metal isn’t worth knowing. The twelve songs encompass brutal vocals that only a select few could muster, sat along side a barrage of riffs that dance between groove and furious neck breaking speed that are a joy to behold.

Hey any album that has a Death bonus track (Evil Dead) has to be good, right? Well this isn’t all about nostalgia, this is Unleashed doing what they do best, truly crushing old school Death Metal. The band has looked to underpin the album with a rough concept that carries through each song, but for a band celebrating twenty years of producing music I can honestly say they have never sounded more vital, and on this form you wouldn’t bet against another ten years being on the cards.