Promethee – Unrest (2015)

Hailing from Switzerland, today we have a very unique Melodic Modern Metal band named Promethee. Mixing some of the good elements of modern Deathcore with the agility and precision of old-school Melodic Death Metal, “Unrest” delivers twelve solid tracks filled with moshing and headbanging moments. Recommended for fans of Hacride, Dagoba, Hatesphere and such, we are sure that anybody with a knack for melody and pounding riffs will find this appealing.

Opening with the punishing riffs of “Our Common Fall”, the band quickly establishes the rich and devastating sound with very well crafted guitars and tight drums. The vocals are on the raspy side, reminding us of Hacride but the music makes us thing more of Whitechapel or TBDM. What makes Promethee unique is that they can instantly switch from pummeling riffs to blistering fast passages of Melodic brilliance as they constantly deliver on “Unspoken” and “Dark Souls”.

The groovier side of things keeps this release quite fresh and engaging with solid tracks like “Frostbite”, “Agent of Unrest” and “Broken Structures”. The band’s guitarists Ludovic Lacroix and Elric Doswald, alongside the insanely talented bassist Mathieu Tappolet keep things thumbing from beginning to end, showing great energy and pretty solid skills. The core of the music is quite well refined allowing the band to focus on being aggressive and adding fancy little elements here and there that greatly elevate their music.

Some transitions like on “Dead Motion” do wonders to keep the album flowing efficiently and to avoid wearing out the listeners. We particularly enjoy the percussions in this very atmospheric piece. Saving the best for last, “Echoes of the Universe” is one of those songs that surrounds you with its pace and atmosphere from beginning to end. We particularly love the use of the voice samples in this song.

Overall, “Unrest” is one powerful release that keeps you fully engaged for start to finish. With plenty of Melodic Metal bands out there these days, it is quite refreshing to hear that a band from Switzerland is making such solid contributions to the scene. If you like crushing riffs, funky tempos, and demoralizing vocals, this is one album that you will buy and enjoy for months to come.

Label: Lifeforce Records

Release: September 4th, 2015 (Europe) / October 2nd, 2015 (North America)

Genre: Melodic Modern Metal

Country: Switzerland