It’s been a thrilling journey witnessing the evolution and maturation of Canadian metallers Unleash the Archers. It’s also hard to believe their newest release, “Phantoma”, is their 6th album on Napalm Records. Having released their debut, “Behold the Devastation,” way back in 2009, Unleash the Archers have consistently built up a following, leading us to their newest opus, “Phantoma”, whose main album concept is about the journey of Phantoma itself, an AI, that becomes self-aware on a future Earth whose currently is facing significant challenges.
Lead vocalist Brittney Slayes‘s voice is out of this world, and the musicianship is a testament to their continuous growth. As the band progresses, the songs become more mature and sophisticated, showcasing their impressive musical prowess. The 10-song, 56-minute opus starts with the super melodic “Human Era” and then charges into the hard-charging “Ph4/NTOmA”.
Unleash the Archers highlights
The band has maintained its power metal aesthetic while injecting more melody and polish. Other highlights include: “Buried in Code”, “The Collective”, “Gods in Decay” and the 7 ½ epic mid-tempo slice of metal heaven “Give it Up or Give it All”.
As a dedicated follower of Unleash the Archers since their debut, I can confidently say that “Phantoma” is not just another album for me. It’s my favorite, a testament to the band’s consistent quality and growth. This is a significant statement for a band with such a strong body of work, and it’s a testament to the impact of “Phantoma”.
Tracklist
- Human Era
- Ph4/NTOmA
- Buried in Code
- The Collective
- Green & Glass
- Gods in Decay
- Give it Up or Give it All
- Ghosts in the Mist
- Seeking Vengeance
- Blood Empress
Line Up
- Brittney Slayes – Vocals
- Grant Truesdell – guitars,
- Andrew Kingsley – guitars,
- Nick Miller – bass
- Scott Buchanan – drums