Review Summary: It should've been an EP.
Unmoored is a technical melodic death metal band that really fell through the cracks. I've known few who've even heard of this band, and I feel the only ones who know it now only do because of their interest in Christian Älvestam, generated by their love of his work in Scar Symmetry. The question at hand: is the lack of recognition just?
I can tell you this album has truly breathtaking moments. "Final State Part III (Posthumous Writings)," a fully sung ballad, is one of the most harmoniously splendid songs under Christian's prolific name. These lyrics, the only ones written by him on this album if I'm not mistaken, are emotional and well written. I cannot help but draw similarities to the even more resplendent "Lethean Tears" off the far more recently released
For Aeons Past.
And though it can't reach the rungs "Final State Part III (Posthumous Writings)" does, "Cinder's Veil" is a great song as well - brutal, yet melodious, and featuring such an excellent guitar solo that I am brought back to this song over and over again just to hear it. Likewise, opener "Unspeakable Grief" and "Phase of Revulsion" are memorable, brutal songs with some super excellent, technical riffing (this album definitely falls into techdeath territory at times). Note the section that begins at 4:04 on "Phase of Revulsion," with its chilling guitar melodies leading into a spellbinding clean vocal passage by our rightfully esteemed Christian Älvestam.
... Unfortunately, these are the only highlights of the album. Every other song is a disappointment by comparison. The elements are there: brutal, borderline technical riffs, hammering drums that are well done and incorporate blast beats at the perfect time, and the excellent growl we've all come to love. The problem is that the music itself is generally boring, and main highlights out of any of them is when Christian's divine clean singing makes small appearances. Admittedly, though, other highlights
do exist. Note the excellent leads making their appearance and recurring starting ~3:02 of "Commit to the Fire," for example.
As much as I want to give this album a higher rating, I fear that 3 very good to great songs and 1 legendary song out of an 8 song album is not my idea of a well constructed album at all.
