Éste momento puede pasar desapercibido para algunos, pero es la primera vez que los guturales se convierten en el foco principal en las canciones de AMARANTHE. “GG6” es una canción muy única y bien diferente de lo que hemos escuchado. La estructura musical es un poco más compleja.

Nos ponemos más activos al compás de la voz de Nils, quien empieza los primeros versos de “BREAKTHOUGH STARSHOT”, una canción más dinámica y que de hecho, dan ganas de bailarla. Perfecta para ir al gimnasio, o para correr. Ya estaba empezando a extrañar una de ésas.

Es bastante innovador cómo han logrado capturar un poco la esencia del hip hop y el rap, y transformarlo en algo muy muy diferente. Siempre que escucho una canción de ésos géneros me pregunto cómo sonarían si fuesen metal. Con “MY HAVEN” tengo mis respuestas. Muy bien lograda.

Y llegamos a ese momento donde en un concierto, se crea un mosh inolvidable. “ICONIC” es definitivamente la canción más pesada de la banda hasta la fecha. La más metal, la más agresiva, la más potente y las notas más altas de Elize. Los guturales son los protagonistas junto a riffs intensos. Aquí destaco muchísimo el trabajo de la batería también, que sus redobles y la rapidez del tempo lo es todo.

“UNIFIED” es cuando llegamos a la balada del álbum. Apreciamos un poco más la voces de Elize & Nils quienes resaltan muchísimo por su capacidad vocal. No dejan de lado los sonidos futuristas, e incorpora igualmente los guturales de Henrik. Es el único álbum de la banda en el que no hay una sóla canción sin guturales.

A diferencia de otros álbumes donde suelen terminar con una balada, ésta vez terminaron con una rápida canción que me recuerda mucho a los álbumes anteriores. “MOMENTUM” es como una síntesis que captura la esencia de AMARANTHE.

Sin duda es una propuesta tremendamente fresca, moderna, y en una combinación de lo nuevo y lo viejo, logra solidificar un estilo propio que muy pocas bandas logran en tan poco tiempo. No es un disco para el perreo intenso metalero (como los otros), si no que tiene mucho más poder y es más pesado que todos los anteriores.

Mi top 3 absoluto:

#3 THE SCORE

#2 HELIX

#1 INFERNO

The album has a powerful start, and the futuristic sounds are present as little touches, very similar to how the first two albums sounded. “THE SCORE” is a song that mixes the old AMARANTHE with the new thing that they have reinvented. To be the first song on the album, starts with enough power. I would have loved it if it was the first single. It has some pop touches that are just fantastic and they go so well with the rest of the song.

As a continuity to the previous album, “365” did the job of bringing the sound they have cultivated so far, to new higher level. The bridges in this song, although not as powerful, have a very strong (and very well put together) instrumental arrangements that marks a difference from other types of songs that they have done. Also, Elize’s vocal work here is just impressive.

“INFERNO” is everything we ever wanted to hear from AMARANTHE: it’s fast, very intense in the chorus and with a lot of strength and power sound provided by the guitars.Henrik’s guttural rap (we might call it gutu-rap) is simply fantastic. The rhymes are very well achieved and the futuristic sound stands out in the most key moments of the song. Up to now it is my favorite. I challenge all of you to not finish the song by repeating “INFERNOOOOO” as loud as possible. Can we make a campaign to have this song as a official video? Thank you.

We move to something more rhythmic, much more sticky. “COUNTDOWN” is a perfect example of what the band is capable of doing in a matter of singles. A strange mix of funk (just a little, don’t  kill me), with metal. It reminds me a little (a lot) of “Drop Dead Cynical” at the time. It is not surprising that it was chosen a single.

In a perfect continuity, we get to listen to the one that gives the album its honor. “HELIX” comes with more futuristic sounds and much heavier riffs than the previous ones. So far it’s the song that represents a lot of the new and reinvented sound of these guys. It has a short jazzy moment, before Nils’s vocals (for the first time in an album of the band) strike us with  power. Guys this song is fantastic! It has all the elements that characterize the band.

“DREAM” is the first approach we have of a slightly slower song. It has some ballad’s element and structure, but with the raps in the verses it becomes a musical hybrid that sounds just great. Both vocals from Nils and Elize make a fantastic combination, and they converge in such a harmonic way that I am sure that many people (including me) will go crazy when listening to it live.

This moment may go unnoticed by few fans, but it is the first time that the growls become the main focus in the song. “GG6” is a very unique song and very different from what we have heard and until now, the heaviest and the most intense for sure.

We get more hyped to the beat Nils’ vocals beginning the first verse of “BREAKTHOUGH STARSHOT”, a much more dynamic song that makes you want to dance, like-really- It’s perfect to go to the gym. I was already starting to miss one of those usual “AMARANTHE” danceable songs.

It is quite innovative how they have managed to capture a bit the essence of hip hop and rap, and turn them it into something very very different. Whenever I hear a song from those genres I wonder how they would sound if they were metal. With “MY HAVEN” I have my answers. Very well achieved.

And we come to that moment where in a concert, an unforgettable mosh is created (or at least I hope so). “ICONIC” is definitely the band’s heaviest song to date. The most metal, the most aggressive and powerful and ir has the highest tunes of Elize’s vocals. The growls are the highlight along with intense heavy riffs. Here I emphasize the work of the drum beat a lot, the speed of the tempo is just everything. EVERYTHING.

“UNIFIED” is when we get to the actual ballad of the album. We appreciate a little more the vocals of Elize & Nils who stand out a lot for their vocal ability. Although it is a proper ballad, they don’t leave aside the futuristic sounds, and also they incorporate the Henrik on it. It is the only album of the band in which there is not a single song without growls.

Unlike other albums where usually close it with a ballad, this time they finish the album with a fast-tempo song that reminds me a lot of previous albums. “MOMENTUM” is like a synthesis that captures the whole essence of AMARANTHE.

Without a doubt it is a tremendously fresh, modern proposal, and in a combination of the new and the old, it manages to solidify their style that very few bands achieve in such a short time. It’s not an album for the intense metallic dancing (like the others), but it has much more power and is heavier than all the previous ones.

My top 3 is:

#3 THE SCORE

#2 HELIX

#1 INFERNO