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Debase — Unleashed
(Sanctuary Records LC09066, 2004, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2005-03-01

Unleashed Cover art Debase is another of Noise Records' recently signed European acts to try their hand at high profile metal. Hailing from the small town of Malmö, Sweden, the quintet does its best to wade through a balanced set of high-octane rockers and hard rock anthems (such as on the CD’s opening cut, “Holy Caravan”). The group has garnered favorable comparisons to many popular acts ranging from Metallica to Megadeth and even Queensryche (probably due to the use of taped effects) and each is merited. Tracks such as “Restrained” show a penchant for dramatic verses and blistering guitar leads that adequately back lead vocalist Michael Hansson who often sounds a lot like James Hetfield. The longest piece and best track on the CD is “Symphony for the Unholy,” which opens with haunting chants wafting behind an ominous church organ. A Black Sabbath style riff pushes the piece into a heavy track that recalls prime Soundgarden with anthemish overtones. This is the group’s third release shows that some of their exposure opening for Alice Cooper has paid off in their sense of time and dramatics, as heard on “The Blood Remains.” The group consistently has a take-no-prisoners modus operandi as there are few weak moments on the album and no ballads. The closing self-titled piece displays the only acoustic intro section before driving yet into another intense all band work out. In closing, Debase needs stateside exposure to be able to make any further serious dents in the metal market.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 31, 2004 releases

Related artist(s): Debase

 

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