Violent Noise from US Brutes
Unearthly Trance's first album "Season of Séance, Science of Séance" delivered on a very cold and emotionless level - All the essential elements were there, but as a listener one couldn't help but feel they were only there as a checklist to affirm the band as a brutal metal band.
Thank goodness then for "In The Red" which seems aptly named as the band have vaulted themselves into a much more emotional state, without losing any of the ferocity or twisted anger of the debut album. The way each song works sounds like a tried and tested formula - rip everything into little shreds and spit it all out again, yet a careful listener can tell that there's nothing random about this album - everything is organised to make sure that although the scathing wall of noise is maintained throughout there's no "just noise", something that an awful lot of extreme metal bands have been very guilty of recently.
Furthermore, the doom element that this band revolves around is played out well, avoiding simply "being there" but instead it's impossible to ignore. Songs of note include "Possession Of Poverty" and the incredibly unique "Deathothic".
Unfortunately, the violence that is urging to get out but caged back by the music form may turn off quite a few listeners - if you like death metal along the lines of In Flames this band will not appeal to you. But if you like your ears to surrender after thirty seconds, buy this album now... Just, get earmuffs, too.