Unto Others hasn’t repeated itself since the 2021 full album “Mana” which in my opinion was the band’s best output, the framework of the songs here is very catchy with hard rocking riffs creating memorable hooks in the opening moments of the album “Butterfly”. The guitars and the vocals soothe the mood as they overtly lean to sound melodic. The vocal delivery is one of the pivotal elements in the album able to flow smoothly through the vast tempo changes, the album includes some hardcore-styled crossover songs like “Momma Likes the Door Closed”.

Unto Others continues to sound dynamic the new album offers gothic qualities from the vocal lines, slow guitar chords, and grand musical embellishments; other highlights like “Angel of the Night” extract dark melodies. The unique collection of songs engraving compelling guitar solos in your head, regardless of the vocal range Gabriel Franco leads the wolf pack with his baritone vocals, songs like “Suicide Today” deliver the flair of mid-paced gothic rock riffs.

The songs shimmer with bright melodies and earworm soundscapes arranged in a tandem array of various styles ranging from hard rock, heavy metal, and gothic metal; their combination of composition comes to perfection with “Sunshine” and “Fame”.

The rhythm guitar offers infectious riffs, it’s fascinating how Unto Others saturates these choruses, lead guitars, and heart-stirring ballads in just one song. The riffs burst into unleashing tremendous hooks on the album’s gothic ballad track “When the Kids Get Caught”. The vocals remind me of Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost) they have this distinctive gothic rock flavor and the guitar solos drop tasteful melodies.

Whenever the band shuffles the crossover hardcore style, they somehow sound like Type O Negative, with their raw stomping drum beats and punky guitar riffs, each song has its distinctive sound and these elements are showcased in the slower songs like “Time Goes On”. Each studio album elevates the guitar standard and I must admit that the flawless performance is organic and experimental in “Never, Neverland“.

The shift in atmosphere in “Cold World” alternates between the slow mid-tempo and the bass guitar riffs, working effectively with the melancholic vocals and the guitar patterns boasting more emotions. Despite the minimal use of the keyboards, they add a breezy chilling atmosphere while the vocals alone carry the music in the slower ballad song “I Am the Light”.

The album is interspersed with short instrumental cuts like “Glass Slippers” and “Farewell…”. “Never, Neverland” is melodiously stretched over a time length of forty-seven minutes. With its dark gothic muse Unto Others wears its trademark sound in “Raigeki 雷撃” proving they are as innovative as ever.

The steady buildup of the song is filled with rocking riffs and vocals oozing in the gloomy thick atmosphere of the thudding bass guitar and beating drums kicking the gear. The slow opening in “Hoops” features a slower intro ebbing and flowing with the guitars and vocals giving oomph to the tempo.

In comparison to the sophomore full-length album “Strength“, Unto Others sounds less punchy but overall shows the talent in tackling a heavy mid-tempo style of gothic metal mixing catchy slow tunes, however, every track wraps melodic guitar segments and the true color of music encompasses a multitude of styles.

The third album exerts the formula while keeping the elements in constant shift and pushing boundaries without sounding different from the early albums, on the closing track “Never, Neverland” takes you on a memorable and emotional ride. The atmosphere shimmers vibrantly with the bass line, beating drums, and gloomy vocals showing the unbridled swagger of these gothic rock stars.

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