After 15 years, we have the first release from the Spanish band Unconsecrated, called “Reveal of the Dead.” It maintains that Swedish essence in every sense; there are no highs or lows in its influences. It has that Dismember and Entombed sound throughout the entire album. And since we're in the midst of a wave of revivals, this is an album that will fit perfectly into collections that seek what almost everyone is looking for: bands that sound like what they knew in the past, and this one maintains the precepts of being a band that carries on that immortal legacy.
Getting straight to the point with Unconsecrated's "Reveal of the Dead," the biggest problem with the music is the studio production. There's an excessive amount of bass and low frequencies that make the album somewhat tedious to listen to, but this was a recurring issue throughout the entire album, from the opening track, "Reveal of the Dead," to the closing track, "Putrid Evocation." This was clearly a deliberate choice by the band, and Jorge García's bass is barely distinguishable due to the saturation of the notes and the re-amping used to create a heavier effect. Another point to highlight is Azathoth's flat and lackluster vocals, which bring more passion than talent to the band's music. This can be attributed to two factors: a strong love for the style, but a lack of technical skill to develop something more compelling.
Another detail to highlight in the mix is the frequent use of snare drum triggers and their mix. It's clear that the depth of the hit is lost, and they opt for just the raw impact, as in "Desecrated," which is most noticeable in the slower sections. Dave and Robert's guitar work could have been better, even though there are some solid moments. However, what weighs down the mix are some disjointed elements, such as in "Eternal Rest," particularly in the placement of solos or the transitions between classic sections of the genre. It's in these areas that the lack of personal rehearsal is evident, and there's no coherence between the rhythmic effects and the guitar solos. A faint whine was also audible, which eventually distorted the speakers. And perhaps it was intentional on the part of the band, but I've been listening to this Swedish style since it first emerged in the '90s, and turning up the volume and having everything distorted isn't right for an extreme metal band, because it loses the essence of the style and becomes detrimental.
I think the main reason why "Reveal of the Dead" is tedious to listen to was that Unconsecrated took 15 years to release their first full-length album, and maybe that's why they reconsidered a lot of things, or perhaps there was pressure to release the album immediately, and that's where mistakes were made.
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=4SzcSqXwJtY&t=99s
