Unprocessed – …And Everything In Between
Release Date: 1st December 2023
For Fans Of: Polyphia, Meshuggah
There are seldom few albums that seem to actually push boundaries and carve out their own sound these days. However, on December 1st 2023, we were gifted an under-loved and underappreciated gem, self-released by Unprocessed in the form of their 5th studio album …And Everything In Between. For those unfamiliar with this band, their sound is best described as Polyphia with vocals and with this release they combine this sound with guitars that sound like they could have been written by Meshuggah.
The forefront of this album’s unique sound is built around the intricate rhythmic stylings of guitarist and singer Manuel Gardner Fernandes and bassist David John Levy. Seemingly the band have decided to dial back the synth and electronic elements in this release compared to previous albums, which we can hear in the opening track ‘Hell’. Immediately after this we are treated to possibly one of the heaviest moments in the band’s career so far with ‘Lore’, which features an end breakdown that could easily blow away any fan of heavy music.
The album powers on with its low gain assault through the singles ‘Thrash’ and ‘Blackbone’ until we reach ‘Die On The Cross of The Martyr’ which features long-time friends of the band Tim Henson and Scottie LePage of Polyphia. This moment on the album demonstrates a contrast between the incredible technicality of the guitar work in the verses and the instrumental simplicity of the chorus. The guitar work is simply astounding amidst Manuel’s luscious voice and whilst this has always been a prominent feature of the band’s sound, this song encompasses it perfectly.
Later tracks on the album seem to draw the listener into a false sense of security with the indication of a moment of reprieve in tracks such as ‘Glass’ and ‘Abysm’ each starting using tame and delicate melodies, only for the listener to be ambushed with yet more devastating riffs, grooves and breakdowns.
This is undoubtedly the heaviest release Unprocessed has given us so far, but it is also a defining moment separating them from the other prog and pop-based artists in their genre. Originality like this is seldom seen and in time this release is sure to be revered with how dynamic and creative it is amongst a sea of cookie-cutter TikTok artists. The future is bright for this band and they have beyond proved that they deserve their status in heavy music.
Rating: 9/10
Recommended Track: Lore