I’ve completely rediscovered The Haunted this year, with the release of Unseen. I used to love the band for being a totally insane and typically Scandinavian thrash band. But now I truly believe they are one of Metal’s most innovating and inventive bands.
Their new album, Unseen is the key to understanding their previous records Revolver, The Dead Eye and Versus. These 3 albums are the ones the band released after the return of singer Peter Dolving to the band in 2003. They are a little bit “hesitating” sometimes, with very melodic parts and very aggressive elements as well. It was obvious that the band had found its sound, but the guys were still trying to express it at it’s best.
There it is: Metal's best album in 2011 - Unseen by The Haunted
Although many metal fans will NEVER accept it, I thing that Unseen, the band’s last album & their best, contains the pure essence of their personality. On that CD you’ll just find everything that makes The Haunted so special. Including the madness and the hysterical elements from their first and self-titled record (1998).
The choruses here are nothing short but AMAZING, peter Dolving is a fantastic singer, capable of screaming his guts out and whispering like some sort of psychic freak or singing like a rock-star.
The power of The Haunted lies in it’s ability to mix 100% pur metal elements with hard rock and grooooove. The groove element is essential to me, and like it or not, it’s ALWAYS been there with The Haunted. Just take out your old Made Me Do It album and listen to the killer breakdown on “Tresspass”.
I just can't really explain how the band sounds, they are totally unique, they sound like no-one else, believe me. It's some sort of Modern Metal with thrash influences mixed up with rock and maybe some indie-rock sounds. This band is special, all their albums are must haves and it’s easy to give you guys some advice about what your priorities should be.
§ If you like metal, including the extreme stuff: go and get ALL their albums.
§ If you’re short on cash: avoid the album One Kill Wonder, it’s the only “not bad” album.
§ If you like your Metal melodic: focus on Unseen, their ultimate MASTERPIECE and The Dead Eye, which is also amazing, but not as exceptional.
It’s that easy with such a fantastic band.
Now the other thing that made me go crazy on The Haunted this year, is their concert at Hellfest 2011. They canceled their initial show in the afternoon on one of the mainstages and rescheduled it at 1:00 AM on a tiny side-stage, usually occupied by fat strippers.
Anyways, the guys did their soundcheck themselves, and regarding the shitty conditions it took them ages. The audience was starting to loose it’s patience and so were Per Jensen (Drums) and Anders Björler (Guiatrs)… After a 45min extra delay, Peter Dolving hit the stage and man, everyone was completely BLOWN AWAY.
The Haunted Live in Hellfest 2011: not a high quality video but does express the intensity of that show (plus I was probably standing a few feet to the left from the guy who shot this)
The small configuration of the show perfectly suited the band actually, the energy was unbelievable, all the accumulated tension just exploded in a few seconds. I’ve never witnessed such intensity in my life. Needless to say it was my favorite show of the festival.
As a matter of fact, it’s really on stage that you definitely realize that The Haunted has not changed. It’s still the same talented band, but the new songs express their potential much better than before.
I’m out of words to tell you guys how I feel about this band, just go listen to it, and if you can, see the guys on stage; the experience might change your life for ever.
The song "No Ghost" taken from Unseen
The Haunted is one of the most talented bands in rock/metal today, and UNSEEN is by far 2011’s best album, PERIOD!
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