Viking Raids＜Colored Vinyl＞

Death metal's own Motorhead, or AC/DC, or, why not, Ramones, Sweden's Unleashed have built an entire career out of keeping things relatively simple, finding endless permutations within a somewhat limited set of sonic parameters, and not because they can't do anything else, either, but because they don't have to. Famously founded with vengeance in mind by vocalist/bassist Johnny Hedlund following his separation from the pre-Entombed band Nihilist, Unleashed proceeded to supply extreme metal fans with one of the most respected and consistent bodies of work (thematically focused on Viking, historical, and horror-fantasy subjects) in the entire death metal canon. And, like Entombed and perhaps more than any other band, Unleashed helped death metal transition away from its original, primarily Byzantine displays of technical musicianship, toward producing more direct, memorable songs. That journey's first 14 years and seven studio albums for Century Media (after which Unleashed decamped to SPV) are represented via 20 highlights on 2008's Viking Raids, which gives no quarter from start to finish. However, although their label seemingly believes otherwise (given the larger number of offerings from the period), Unleashed's greatness wasn't instantly apparent in their unquestionably strong but not yet very distinctive first efforts from 1991's Where No Life Dwells and 1992's Shadows in the Deep -- both of which still relied far too heavily on sonic traits pervasive to the entire Swedish DM scene of the day. No, the group only hit its personal songwriting stride on ensuing albums like Across the Open Sea (1993), Victory (1995), and Warrior (1997), all which found Hedlund and company astutely abridging their material to achieve the utmost immediacy and sheer impact, even while their lyrics grew ever bloodier and more scandalous -- at times almost childishly yet entertainingly so. After a few years of downtime, this creative trend and quality workmanship were effortlessly resurrected for the final two albums delivered to Century Media, 2002's Hell's Unleashed and 2004's arguable career best Sworn Allegiance, which certainly sent the band on to its next business partners at the top of its game. Come to think of it, Unleashed continued their winning streak unabated over the years that followed the period chronicled here, and so not having access to that material is the only possible knock one can level at Viking Raids; otherwise, it's about as perfect an introduction to the band as one could ask for. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia