![unleashed – before the creation of time [compilation]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Unleashed-–-Before-The-Creation-Of-Time-Compilation-cover.webp "Unleashed – Before The Creation Of Time [Compilation]")
Info
- Band(s): Unleashed
- Label(s): Darkness Shall Rise Productions
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, CD, Compilation
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: August 26, 2024
- Author(s): FelixS
Without going too much into the in itself somewhat sad history of Johnny Hedlund’s rather disgraceful tricking out of Nihilist by disbanding the band and continuing as Entombed, we can still speak of a pleasing catch up with Johnny’s subsequently founded Unleashed. An introduction to one of the longest running Swedish Death Metal bands is quite unnecessary, but it is much deserved to mention that, unlike many of their peers, including Entombed, Unleashed never took any musical detours or only partly successful experimenting. Okay, not all of Unleashed’s recorded material that saw the light of day during their 35 year career was equally essential or exciting. Especially the albums that were released around the turn of the millennium can best be described as generic, but the band’s perseverance and stoic character resulted in more than just one classic in Swedish Death Metal and gained them much praise.
Before the release of their iconic debut album, ‘Where No Life Dwells’ (1991, Century Media) the band released a handful of demos and a 7” EP. It is that pre-album material that is the core for this Darkness Shall Rise Productions released compilation LP (released on CD too). While the majority of these songs found their way in updated versions to the debut LP and all of those tracks were released on various bootlegs over the years, this LP brings together both the ‘The Utter Dark’ and ‘Revenge.…’ demos from 1990 as well as what is referred to as the ‘Bielefeld Sessions’.
Let’s start things differently for a change, with the music on the B-side, as they might be the most interesting to most. These seven tracks were recorded at the Nobel Studios in Bielefeld in December of 1990 and was commissioned by Century Media, where the band had recently signed. The tape was therefore appropriately titled ‘Century Media Promo Tape’. It should perhaps come as no surprise that this tape was frequently exchanged on the tape trading circuit and for many, these are the ultimate versions of these songs.
Two of those tracks found their way to the 1991 Century Media released ‘And The Laughter Has Died….’ 7” EP and three others were included in the classic Century Media ‘In The Eyes Of Death’ compilation LP that was the light of day in 1991 as well. That leaves two of the original seven tracks unheard by the masses. But the combination of the youthful energy and the raw, almost punkish vibe do indeed give the tracks a distinctly different character from the versions that ended up on ‘Where No Life Dwells’.
The same can be roughly said about the tracks on side A of the vinyl, both demos have a certain roughness to them that is omitted to the heavy and massive sound of the debut LP. Yet, while I have heard several versions of these tracks, or at least, on several different (bootleg) releases, these do by far sound heaviest and crudest. Of course a lot of how you experience a track has to do with the quality of the sound carrier used. Compared to for instance the ‘Utter Revenge’ bootleg 2LP from 2012 it is quite obvious that these Darkness Shall Rise Productions versions have been polished considerably. Just like the Immortal compilation done by the same label, Patrick W. Engel has indeed remastered the tracks. And just like the case with Immortal, I am not entirely positive about his tinkering. Maybe it is just a matter of personal taste and preference, but to me there is too much of a low-end rumbling on both guitar and bass. Consequently the tracks do sound quite muddy and even a little undefinable. In fact, not very far from what a band like Undergang brings to the table these days.
Of course, the true connoisseur of Swedish Death Metal already heard all of these tracks before and the obvious question arises that they might not serve much purpose as there have been several releases with those pre-album tracks already. Still, the importance of those early Unleashed tracks remain untouched and having them all together in a more-or-less consistent sounding way, thanks to Engel, is worth something as well. And, besides everything, this is just simply essential, killer Swedish Death Metal!
Darkness Shall Rise Productions
- Country: Germany
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram
