Haunting The Chapel
2005 seems to be the year for the Haunted. After notching up tour slots with everyone to Funeral For A Friend to Cannibal Corpse, the Swedes have managed to create another amazing album. If 2003's One Kill Wonder was sonic assault; then rEVOLVEr is the nuclear bomb being dropped on the eardrums.
One of the coolest things about the Haunted is that their unique sounds fuses elements of thrash, death metal and even hardcore into one highly polished unit.
The focal point is returning vocalist Peter Dolving. Every word he sings, screams or down right roars is spitting with venom. Where Dolving's predecessor Marco Arno had more of a metallic - influenced vocal style, Dolving's is more reminiscent of a hardcore bite to his vocals.
Every song is unique in its own way. First track No Comprise has elements of an old-school hardcore shout along choruses. 99 is a fast-paced thrash blitz to the senses. Sweet Relief is so bludgeoning its like a Slayer-esque attack. The punk attitude filled Who Will Decide features a guest slot from Lou Koller from New York's own Sick Of It All. This is a perfect match in terms of bands having things in common on the outlook towards metallic-influenced hardcore or hardcore - influenced metal. Single All Against All is a punchy and pissed off anthem. My Shadow is so lyrically dark and dirge - filled it sends shivers up the spine.
The album is filled with a solid groove worthy of Pantera and is state of the art 21st century metal.