The Unavowed - War EP

THE UNAVOWED - War (EP)
2010
Indie

The Unavowed is a metal band from Ottawa. They've been around since 2006 or 2007, played many gigs in the Ottawa region, Eastern Ontario and Montreal area. Their first EP, released in 2007, was an old school street trash affair, reminding me of NY hardcore-meets-trash garage bands of the late '80s. Since then, The Unavowed grew in maturity and in originality, and after releasing a digital live EP in 2008, they went on to release one of the best EP releases of 2010.

War is only 4 songs long, but it's definitely one whole ride. The EP starts with "Prepare for War", an epic, pounding song, that sets the tone. Then we have "Crusades", "Death is the Last Enemy" and "The Destruction of Me", 3 mid-pace songs placed back to back to make sure you don't have enough time to catch your breath. When it finally stops, about 14 minutes later, you're left wondering when the cavalry will come to finish you off.

What makes this album great is the whole aesthetic of it. You just have to look at the beautiful artwork to understand that the band went beyond your typical G.I. Joe-metal thing. Whether it was intentional or not, the set and the proximity of the songs give the impression it's all part of the same story. The sound is raw, very raw, especially the guitars, while the bass and drum give this perfect organic texture underneath. Just hear the first few notes of "Prepare for War" to feel how dirty and epic War is when it hits you. As for the vocalist, he has this perfect high pitch that use the best of ol'school trash metal, with the angry tone of a 2010 screamer.

Definitely something to recommend to any fan of High on Fire, although "War" has colors of its own.

The Unavowed has unfortunately decided to call it off in 2011, but the band made sure they offered their masterwork on their website, for free. Make sure you pick it up.

www.theunavowed.com/