The Unity: Rise

German melodic hard rock/metal outfit The Unity announced themselves on the scene just a couple of years back with their well received, self titled, debut. Making a quick fire return and looking to build on the early momentum they’ve constructed, Rise finds the sextet picking up exactly where The Unity left off.

Formed by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter when their Gamma Ray band leader, Kai Hansen, mothballed his act in favour of Unisonic and then followed that with the Helloween Reunited tour and subsequent album, unsurprisingly The Unity employed a similar take on the metal genre. But in fairness, the band’s debut was no carbon copy, a more readily commercial edge and a much more hard rock encompassing outlook incorporated into their power metal framework. With a few tweaks here and there, Rise decides it’s best not to stray too far from the same path, singer Jan Manenti walking the tightropes between king of the chorus, rousing metal monster and pouting preening pop. All leaving a kind of beefed up Eden’s Curse flavour that convinces from the off.

The upbeat bounce of “You Got Me Wrong� gets it absolutely right as it bangs out a ripping riff alongside crashing drums, but then so does the likes of the slightly more brooding “The Storm�, which adds a little more drama to the pot. “Welcome Home� heads for the other end of the spectrum, layered vocals combined to a bright production and romp along tempo to ensure a mile wide smile appears as you bang your head to the pumping beat. With co-guitarist Stefan Ellerhorst matching Richter every step of the way and the keyboard work from Sascha Onnen integral in delivering broad, bright brushstrokes, the sound is rich and full.

The approach on “All That Is Real� looks to change things up a little bit by being a mid-paced thumper. And with “The Willow Tree� adding a balladic touch to proceedings, there’s a welcome acknowledgement from The Unity that they may have to mix things a little to truly hold the interest. However with the bombastic bass work from Jogi Sweers pummelling at full force across “Above Everything�, “Better Days� and the almost House Of Lords like “No Hero�, there’s no denying that The Unity operate at maximum power when they are simmering with metallic intent.

The Unity’s debut album found this outfit receiving countless accolades and even some ‘best new band’ awards in their native Germany. Rise hits the same heights, however, even with it adding a couple of new flavours, where this lot head next could be key, because there’s no doubt that there’s a formula in play here. More of the same - even to this high standard - could find things beginning to stall, but too much difference for different’s sake could be equally perilous. In the meantime, let us simply Rise with The Unity and revel in their second excellent album.

Track Listing
1. Revenge
2. Last Betrayal
3. You Got Me Wrong
4. The Storm
5. Road to Nowhere
6. Welcome Home
7. All That Is Real
8. No Hero
9. The Willow Tree
10. Above Everything
11. Children of the Light
12. Better Days
13. L.I.F.E.  

Added: September 13th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Unity Rocks!
Hits: 1193
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]