Unbowed - Silent Weapons for a Quiet War

There are some albums that simply catch your attention—be it through the artwork, pre-released tracks, or even the band itself. In my case, it was the band. Why? Because of the way they reached out. You could tell from their writing style how important it was to UNBOWED to bring their music—and in this case, their debut album—to the press. Should that dedication be rewarded by giving the album a listen and writing a proper review? Absolutely!

The band consists of frontwoman and lyricist Vox Infernum, Aetherius (responsible for guitar sound, synths, and production), and Percival Drakon (handling bass and drums). Their musical style, rooted in melodic death metal, incorporates elements of thrash, punk, and power metal, adding intensity and a unique touch to their sound. Thematically, the band focuses on societal resistance and highlighting injustices.

UNBOWED was founded in late 2023, and now it's time to dive into the most important aspect of any review—the music.

We kick things off with the opener "We need a stone", which starts off on a calmer note. A clean guitar sound leads us into the world of UNBOWED, accompanied by a brief spoken word part that explains, "Even a simple stone, in the hands of the right person, can become a powerful tool for change." With this message, the entire sound concept grows heavier: the guitar becomes more distorted, delivering a driving, marching riff, perfectly supported by the drums. The raw growls of vocalist Vox Infernum hit my ears, instantly reminiscent of genre greats like IN FLAMES or ARCH ENEMY. Vox channels that same energy, with dark, guttural vocals that cut to the bone and grow increasingly sinister and rasping as the song progresses. Naturally, a proper death metal track wouldn’t be complete without a solo in the bridge. The only thing I’d have liked here is a more prominent bass, but that’s more of a "nice to have." One thing is already clear—this opener packs a punch and sets the stage for what’s to come.

The second track is the album's title track, "Silent Weapons For A Quiet War." It kicks off with an epic power metal intro, complemented by throaty screams that fit beautifully into the atmosphere. Those elongated screams, in particular, hit just right for me. Personally, I feel this track would’ve been better placed in the final third of the album to really pull listeners back in, as it’s an absolute powerhouse, leaving little room to catch your breath. The song steamrolls forward in classic melodic death metal fashion and is bound to guarantee some wild mosh pits and sore necks during live performances. The chorus has serious potential to be chanted with raised fists—a true crowd-pleaser.

In "General Energy Concepts," we finally get to hear some clean vocals for the first time. After another epic and typically fast intro, the clean vocals blend with the guttural growls, complementing rather than overpowering them, which adds more depth to the overall sound. At the one-minute mark, there’s a solo that unfortunately gets a bit lost in the mix, as the drums dominate too much, creating a slightly chaotic impression. But even here, this is nitpicking at a high level.

Let’s continue with Hidden Hand, which starts off a bit calmer. While it’s still peppered with distinctive growls, it’s more intense than pure melodic death songs. Like its predecessors on this work, this track is incredibly driving and, as previously mentioned, fittingly melodic for the genre. Thematically, it highlights the efficiency of propaganda and the lack of education in the struggle to control society. I appreciate how critically UNBOWED approaches their album, holding up a mirror to many.

For the first time, we also hear cleaner guitar melodies, Vox’s powerful and commanding voice, strong solos, and creative guitar leads, paired with a rhythm section that knows how to set interesting and coherent accents.

Now we come to a track that is sure to become a fan favorite both on and off the pit: Confused and Amused. The song greets us with a blast of gasping, deep, and prolonged growls, combined with fast-paced riffs and solid drumming that hit us right in the face. I’m also thrilled about a more prominent bass presence here. Once again, we are served an album-appropriate and perhaps uncomfortable message:

"Keep them confused // Keep them amused."

Vox delivers this line with intensity, reminding us that as long as we remain in the dark, we’re content, leaving others free to do as they please. This track has definitely become my favorite, and I can’t wait to experience it live.

In the album’s final third, we have two tracks featuring both clean and guttural vocals: Between Knowing and Disbelief and Won’t No One Think of the Children. The former impresses with its beautiful two-voice guitar sound (if I’m not mistaken), while the latter captivates with yet another dose of epic elements. Otherwise, you’re treated to solid melodic death metal.

The curtain falls with the closer Atlas, where the entire band shows off their skills one last time. It’s a hard, marching sound that takes no prisoners. It feels like UNBOWED is venting their frustrations and dissatisfaction through this track. I highly recommend giving this song a listen, as it encapsulates all the album’s strengths in one piece.

But wait, there’s more—a bonus track: Bella Unbowed. In my opinion, this bonus wasn’t necessary, especially after such a strong closer that perfectly wrapped up the album. This track is a melodic death metal rendition of the Italian partisan song Bella Ciao, renamed Bella Unbowed.

So, what can be said about the debut Silent Weapons for a Quiet War by UNBOWED? A lot, but let’s keep it brief: The band has poured an incredible amount of refined melodies and hard work into this release, making me wonder, “Is this really a debut?” Of course, there’s always room for growth—and that’s how it should be—but I can easily see UNBOWED rallying a large fanbase with their music.

Release date: December 13, 2024