As one of many earliest and biggest purveyors of the fashion, In Flames‘ Nineties output was a vital a part of the early Swedish melodeath motion. But, beginning with 2002’s Reroute to Stay – and till 2023’s excellent return to kind, Foregone – they prioritized another steel sound. Consequently, many listeners had been sad with the band’s new path and yearned for the times of 1996’s The Jester Race and its instant successors.
Enter The Halo Effect, a brand new group shaped round 2021 and comprised of 5 ex-In Flames members: vocalist Mikael Stanne, bassist Peter Iwers, drummer Daniel Svensson, and guitarists Niclas Engelin and Jesper Strömblad. From the leap, they had been pushed by the will to recapture the magic of the traditional “Gothenburg sound,” and with 2022’s Days of the Lost, they largely did.
Thankfully, follow-up March of the Unheard doubles down on that ambition, delivering an much more nostalgic and genuine journey that – at instances – arguably sounds too near In Flames‘ golden period.
According to Stanne – who additionally fronts Dark Tranquility – they approached their debut with the mindset of simply having “enjoyable,” however after all of the accolades it obtained, they felt appreciable stress to reside as much as expectations with their sophomore outing. Engelin provides, “I felt extra assured this time round,” explaining that March of the Unheard is “extra progressive, with extra guitars, extra riffage – it is extra of all the things, in a method.”
Thematically, the document continues its predecessors’ exploration of individuality and steel, too, making it much more of a becoming subsequent installment in The Halo Impact‘s catalog.
Opener “Conspire to Deceive” instantly harkens again to the Gothenburg scene’s penchant for extremely melodic and moody aggression. Particularly, its build-up of atmospheric tones, interlocking guitar patterns, scratchy riffs, and roaring percussion are gripping sufficient, but additionally they work splendidly supporting Stanne‘s devilish outbursts. With the assistance of some transient however resourceful detours, “Conspire to Deceive” rapidly turns into a perpetually engaging and symbolic assertion of what March of the Unheard has up its sleeve.
Elsewhere – equivalent to on “Detonate,” “A Demise that Turns into Us,” and “What We Change into” – The Halo Impact uphold that ferocity whereas additionally rising accessibility a tad (through epic guitar strains, catchier hooks, and calmer passages). That stated, the true greatness of the LP comes when the group deviates much more from that central recipe.
For instance, “Our Channel to the Darkness” begins with a haunting acoustic prelude that is synonymous with classic Swedish melodeath. Afterward, “Merciless Notion” throws in subtly affective guitar arpeggios so as to add easy however impact emotion and depth, simply as grand instrumental “This Curse of Silence” incorporates piano, an angelic choir, and a real marching band for maxim drama and sweetness. “Perpetually Astray” and “Between Instructions” finds Stanne singing cleanly, too – which works very properly – and unsurprisingly (given its identify), the acoustic “Coda” is a beautiful epilogue that displays on prior motifs and provides the LP a better sense of significance.
Though a better steadiness between growls and clear vocals would possible make March of the Unheard stronger, that is a really small and wholly subjective criticism. Equally, each the title observe and “Coda” evoke – if indirectly emulate – one of many key riffs from In Flames‘ “Dead Eternity” (later integrated into “Acoustic Medley“). After all, that could possibly be completely coincidental (or a intelligent nod), and it isn’t precisely the identical. Nonetheless, it is value mentioning (for higher or worse).
All in all, March of the Unheard is a wonderful (and nearly definitely superior) continuation of Days of the Misplaced‘s trustworthy vibe. The Halo Impact undoubtedly succeed at increasing their new id whereas recalling the traditional emblems of their former band. Whether or not you are particularly an old-fashioned In Flames devotee or only a fan of the Gothenburg sound in a common sense, then, you may absolutely love what the quintet have achieved.
