It’s interesting that yesterday I reviewed an album by a band and wondered if they were the future of heavy metal.
Because back in the first decade of this millennium, if I had been writing this site, I would have been saying that about Huddersfield’s finest.
Evile were opening for Megadeth and, to this day, their set was one of the great opening acts.
It never quite happened, and after some lineup changes and some tragedy, and four superb albums, they disappeared for almost a decade. They re-emerged with “Hell Unleashed,” with Ol Drake back and on vocals instead of brother Matt.
And if that was slightly different (my review mentioned bands like Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride), it still retained a thrash core. And that’s the case with “The Unknown” too. Still Evile, but always pushing on.
“The Unknown” is all in its title cut. Darker, slower, more deliberate, and dare I say, more mature than before, maybe? That vibe continues on “The Mask We Wear,” and if I say the word “Metallica” here, I am going to assume no one’s going to get too upset. It is Evile’s “House That Jack Built” moment.
This collection is monstrously heavy, but it’s accessible. Nowhere is this better shown than “Monolith,” which is aptly named, given the way it crushes but remains hook-filled
The longest track here, “When Mortal Coils Shed,” is perhaps the best example of Evile in 2023. Glorious, epic, and full of harmony, but just in case you fancy a mosh, clear the circle pit for “Sleepless Eyes.” And the slashing solo is absolutely on point, and as if to underline the fact, “Out Of Sight” repeats the dose.
Indeed, it’s noticeable that the second half of the album is much faster than the first, and “At Mirrors Speech” is a kind of halfway house, but it’s the words that hit you the most, as Ol Drake takes you deep into a maelstrom of self-loathing.
“Reap What You Sow” has a proper gang mentality in the backing vocals. And the riffing is simply glorious. Helmet-worthy in parts and Ben Carter’s part in this can’t be understated.
“Beginning Of The End” is anchored down by the bass of Joel Graham and drummer Adam Smith, and if this is the apocalypse, then let’s go.
And “Balance Of Time” brings us back full circle, almost. Not to the start of this album, but to the start of Evile. The thrash still burns deep; it’s just 20 years into their careers they aren’t the same band (literally or metaphorically), but they are still wonderful.
With “The Unknown,” they’ve taken a leap, but my goodness, it’s worked for them.
Rating: 9.5/10
