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Unleash The Archers - Abyss



8.1 | 164 votes |
Release date: 21 August 2020
Style: Heavy metal, Power metal

Owners:

67 have it
10 want it


01. Waking Dream
02. Abyss
03. Through Stars
04. Legacy
05. Return To Me
06. Soulbound
07. Faster Than Light
08. The Wind That Shapes The Land
09. Carry The Flame [feat. Andrew Kingsley]
10. Afterlife

The Best Power Metal Album Of 2020

Additional info
Cover Art: Nightjar art of Adam Burke.

Staff review by
ScreamingSteelUS
Rating:
7.3
Fortunately, the title's foreshadowing proved to be a red herring and Abyss is not the opposite of Apex after all, at least in terms of quality. It is, however, something of an unexpected twist away from Unleash The Archers's characteristic roaring assault.

Read more ››
published 11.08.2020 | Comments (6)

Found in 29 lists
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Comments

Comments: 22   Visited by: 456 users
17.06.2020 - 22:15
ickoriss

Beyond stoked for this after how fucking great Apex was.
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18.06.2020 - 22:08
Rating: 7
Metal Rasputin

Hype is strong with this one. The cover art looks ugly, though.
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You've got a lot of guts. Let's see what they look like!
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21.08.2020 - 17:20
Rating: 9
Elisyon

Great album! nice riffs and the vocals are strong as ever
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21.08.2020 - 18:07
Rating: 9
Bardamu

I'm really enjoying this so far. They had a lot to live up to after Apex, but this is a really good way to follow it up.
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21.08.2020 - 19:40
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
This is how I wish Kobra and the lotus would sound, seems band plays metal not pop sound as that band. well I like boat, what best, i dunno.
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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22.08.2020 - 07:48
Rating: 9
ferelli14

My advice is to listen to this one twice, it gets better on the second listen. The first time I listened to it, I found the second half to be much stronger than the first, something pretty rare in albums. Then I listened to it again and found that the first half had grown on me. Overall I'd put it right up there with Apex.
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22.08.2020 - 11:47
Rating: 9
SegaSnatcher

This album is absolutely brilliant. They took many chances/risks on this album and I feel it paid off.

The guitar work as just as impressive as ever with an even more thought towards melodies.

The synth gives a nice added atmosphere without getting in the way, just a nice layer underneath the band.

And Brittney....... This is the best she has ever sounded. She is one of the best current performing metal singers without question. The Wind That Shapes The Land really shows off her full vocal range.

There isn't a song off this album I dislike, some are simply better than others. My top 3 are "Through Stars", "Return to Me" and the aforementioned "The Wind That Shapes The Land". Also, gotta give an honorable mention to the song "Legacy" for being totally different than anything UTA has wrote previously, such a unique song.
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22.08.2020 - 13:49
Rating: 7
Metal Rasputin

After few spins I'm starting to feel little disappointed with this album. Sure, it's technical and well played, but feels so lifeless and way too happy to me. Maybe it's just me, but the synth overshadows the guitars too much at times.
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You've got a lot of guts. Let's see what they look like!
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22.08.2020 - 16:03
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Metal Rasputin on 22.08.2020 at 13:49

After few spins I'm starting to feel little disappointed with this album. Sure, it's technical and well played, but feels so lifeless and way too happy to me. Maybe it's just me, but the synth overshadows the guitars too much at times.


I have same, seems its one time spin then wait, you can listen wholem disco in same day here.
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
23.08.2020 - 01:28
ickoriss

It's a great record, but not quite living up to Apex for me. Definitely still their second best record though. I'm hoping it grows on me more. Time will tell.
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23.08.2020 - 13:29
Rating: 9
Bardamu

I watched the album release concert last night and was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't sure how well this album would translate into a live performance, particularly with no audience and streamed online - but it sounded great. Obviously not quite the same atmosphere as a live gig, but at least I didn't have to drunkenly figure out where my hotel was afterwards.
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25.08.2020 - 00:36
Rating: 9
SegaSnatcher

The three dorks who rated this album a 1 Star are freaking trolls. Even if this album isn't your cup of tea a rating of 1 is just dumb.

You give a 1 to an album with absolutely terrible production, terrible musicianship and terrible song structure. None of these things are problem on Abyss.

These guys are objectively talented and even if you don't particularly like any of the songs on Abyss, they are still well structured, so again to give this album a 1 is just trollish.

I honestly wished there was a mandatory "Explain your rating" for a 1 Star. Those scores just artificially lower album ratings that in no way could be justified other than some people being jerks.

EDIT: Looks like this same troll also gave 1 star to their other albums as all their scores dropped at the same time. Lame
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25.08.2020 - 18:20
ickoriss

After a few more spins, I can confirm that this record is definitely a grower. It's not explosive as Apex, but the songs on it are fantastic nonetheless. Definitely a contender for my AOTY.

Also, I can't be the only one who thinks the first part of 'Legacy' sounds like Deafheaven lol.
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25.08.2020 - 21:33
Rating: 9
SegaSnatcher

Written by ickoriss on 25.08.2020 at 18:20

After a few more spins, I can confirm that this record is definitely a grower. It's not explosive as Apex, but the songs on it are fantastic nonetheless. Definitely a contender for my AOTY.

Also, I can't be the only one who thinks the first part of 'Legacy' sounds like Deafheaven lol.


Andrew said that Legacy is his take on a Devin Townsend/Deafheaven song.
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26.08.2020 - 05:40
Rating: 9
tintinb

Soaring fast paced melodies throughout the album. Listening to Unleash the Archers for the first time and I have to admit that lady can sing. Waking Dream, Legacy, The wind that shapes the land, will have to be my favourites.
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Leeches everywhere.
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26.08.2020 - 22:03
ickoriss

Written by SegaSnatcher on 25.08.2020 at 21:33

Written by ickoriss on 25.08.2020 at 18:20

After a few more spins, I can confirm that this record is definitely a grower. It's not explosive as Apex, but the songs on it are fantastic nonetheless. Definitely a contender for my AOTY.

Also, I can't be the only one who thinks the first part of 'Legacy' sounds like Deafheaven lol.


Andrew said that Legacy is his take on a Devin Townsend/Deafheaven song.

That makes total sense. Thanks for the context!
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30.08.2020 - 06:23
Rating: 9
SegaSnatcher

Written by jawharessence on 29.08.2020 at 12:02

You would think that after Apex, their only solid album, they would actually blow up.
But no. They've proceeded to make an album bordering on pop and radio-friendly releases. Even Brittney's vocals here aren't as soaring as they were on Apex. Such a shame.
I don't understand what the 9's here are all about.


I can't speak for the other 9 ratings, but the reason I gave it a 9 is because of what I consider great production, amazing musicianship and most importantly well crafted songs.

It sounds like you just wanted Apex 2.0 which while I'm sure would have been great in its own right, but it would also be kinda boring to just do the same thing again.

Brittney has never sounded better. Her vocal performance on The Wind That Shapes The Land is by far her best vocal performance on an album, it really shows off her full range.

Lastly, Apex was not their only solid album. Time Stands Still was great and Demons of the Astrowaste was really good too.
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22.09.2020 - 22:51
Rating: 7
Tom Muller

Strong album but not as good as apex
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Can you see it
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09.10.2020 - 03:01
Rating: 9
mikeprado30

Loved this one. Very nice musicianship. And so sad to read on the comments so many unnecessary prejudices about music
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BARDS WE ARE, BARDS WE WILL BE!
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07.02.2021 - 08:01
Rating: 8
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Sounds like a mix of Temperance and Kobra And The Lotus. Bit of Shadowside, too.
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"Another day, another Doug."
"I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples."
" 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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14.03.2021 - 10:45
Aries Rising

Written by SegaSnatcher on 25.08.2020 at 00:36

The three dorks who rated this album a 1 Star are freaking trolls. Even if this album isn't your cup of tea a rating of 1 is just dumb.

You give a 1 to an album with absolutely terrible production, terrible musicianship and terrible song structure. None of these things are problem on Abyss.

These guys are objectively talented and even if you don't particularly like any of the songs on Abyss, they are still well structured, so again to give this album a 1 is just trollish.

I honestly wished there was a mandatory "Explain your rating" for a 1 Star. Those scores just artificially lower album ratings that in no way could be justified other than some people being jerks.

EDIT: Looks like this same troll also gave 1 star to their other albums as all their scores dropped at the same time. Lame


If that is the case then there should be an "Explain your rating" for 10 stars as well. Those should be once in a blue moon type albums that either broke new ground or were completely flawless on all levels from start to finish.
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30.03.2021 - 19:54
Rating: 6
metalbrat

With exemptions of very few bands, I am not a fan of the genre and hence I am not able to find any speciality with this album compared to some other power metal albums of the year. But , of course, give credit to her vocals which are outstanding and the production is excellent. Rest seems average to me.
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In the beginning I was made of clay. Then I bit the apple and they changed me to metal 🤘
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