Undrask – “God Emperor”

Released: April 21, 2023

A band that stole my heart in 2017 is back all these years later with another offering full of the fantastical storytelling, driving groove, and infectious melody that I have come to adore. While it seems the long years since their last album have been busy for the members in their personal lives, it is clear they haven’t lost a step artistically. They weren’t gone, they were simply biding their time away from our eyes and ears forging the next installment of their story. Intentional or not the band has come to carry a bit of a concept through their music, following a warrior through his battles with various foes. The music creates a huge sonic backdrop over which the lyrics lay a tale for the ages. For this album we follow our hero as the legendary Longhammer is forged…

God Emperor proves itself a worthy addition to the epic tale put forth in the band’s 2017 release “Battle Through Time” where we were introduced to tales of battle and the story of the Longhammer, from a track of the same name. The band stated in an interview with Metal Utopia that the story of Longhammer was never meant to be a tale of a weapon, but the lyrics were interpreted differently and the band has since latched onto that new idea. It has turned into quite the happy accident as it has led us here, to an almost tabletop RPG style story full of magic and mystical beings. This album tells the tale of the forging of the Longhammer across 11 tracks, each a journey of their own. Individually as well as together each track has movement and is cohesive with what is in front of it and behind it. Layers upon layers of sound are overlayed to create an epic sound not unlike something one would find in a movie score. It all sounds cinematic with emotionally driving moments, and tension swinging it’s way in and out to keep the listener on their toes. Assisted by horns and auxiliary strings the guitars lay down powerful melodies and driving leads to set the mood for the gravely, intense vocal performance to retell each story in our quest. What makes vocalist Steve Wynn’s vocals perfect here is that they are easily understandable, I would believe even for a listener less familiar with understanding harsh vocals. This album fully leans into concept territory, and the retelling of the story is pivotal, making the lyrics more important than some other versions of death metal music.

The album opens powerfully with tribal sounding drums, epic horns and a shreddy guitar lead to set the stage for the epic tale we are about to hear. It all cuts out and with a powerful rhythm we are off on our quest. The whole band syncs up to create the perfect moment for windmill headbangs and circle pits. The intro pulls into near 2 minutes before the throaty vocals begin regaling us with the opening lines of the album. The entire track keeps the energy high flying and intense, driving through to the end, where the same horns that greeted us close the track out. Undrask keep the tempo blistering and the energy high throughout the album and only pull back to create a deep feeling of tension, signaling a turn in the story and our hero’s fortune. Soon, we find ourselves upon the track “We Are Longhammer”. While not a single release pre-album, it sets itself up to be one of the major tracks of the album based not only on it’s uniqueness among the rest of the tracks, but its content. The Longhammer itself has become a focus for many fans and indeed the album circles the story of it. The gang vocals and chants of “Hail! Hail!” are catchy as all hell and will certainly serve to deliver an electric live performance. The latter half of the song is blessed with a blazing guitar solo that breaks into an incredible guitar harmony seamlessly before the two axe-wielders break apart again. It is virtuosic in nature and tips perfectly into the last quarter of the song, where chants and double kick drums dominate, filling all the sonic space available.

The album certainly doesn’t stop delivering excitement there however. Some other great moments for me were the two singles released with videos so far, “The Mountain” and “The Thing in the Pit”. Both aurally live up to their title. The Mountain sounds like the backing track to not only a physically demanding climb but to a mentally demanding one as well. It is the soundtrack to bravery itself. “The Thing in the Pit” delivers a much more tense sound. It is descension into danger with sweat on your brow. The bass in the intro paired with the drums begin slow, almost tribal again but grow into a rapid pounding that reminds me of a beating and fearful heart. A scream brings in the full force of the band as we get the feeling we have encountered our Thing and must face it now eye-to-eye. The song sounds almost frantic and panicked, and it never truly lets you stop for a breath.

The band also enlisted the help of a couple other metal musicians to put two tracks over the top. Morgan Riley of Blackwater Drowning provides some additional shrieking vocals on the track “Queen”, while the legendary Jeff Loomis gives a solo to “Heart of the Abyss”. While Undrask themselves certainly could have done these songs very well without help, the addition of those two musicians puts each track over the top. This album all the way through seems to be about the small touches that add that extra 10% to how it sounds, and that extra effort over the past 6 years has produced an incredible work of art.

Undrask had already become a staple in my listening rotation, but God Emperor has added to that rotation easily. The album feels so carefully crafted and well put together. The way each track moves and conveys moods and emotions is incredible. The tracks on this album tend a bit longer, with many in the 6-7 minute range, and each track takes advantage of every second. It truly is a case of all killer, no filler, all the way down to the 9 minute 36 second finishing epic track “God Emperor”. The album hits so many checkmarks for what I love in an album it feels like the band asked me what I wanted personally and delivered it. The concept, the guitar melodies, the double kicks and the use of bass guitar to create a mode like in the beginning of The Thing in the Pit. If my hopes are answered we won’t see another six year wait for another album, but even if we must wait, God Emperor has given us plenty of material to sit with. Give the album a stream down below, and for anyone in the North Carolina area be on the lookout should these boys head out to play live.