Unholy
From the shadows (CD) 1999 Avantgarde
This is a very strange album. Unholy's sound can be defined as avantgarde blackdoom, but it’s very difficult to find a term to describe this music in the first place. The song structures are very strange and unconventional and the whole album has a very unaccesible, psychotic sound. The male vocals are very brutal, maniacal screams and grunts, but the female vocals they use once and then are not less bizarre. The guitar work is very heavy. Some keyboards are used occasionaly to assist in creating an icecold, trance-like atmosphere. Also the drumming and percussion sound very strange and vary from very rhythmical drum work to primitive tam-tam sounds. The album starts very powerful with 'Alone' a track full of rhythm changes and an anxiety-evoking atmosphere. Also the second track is incredible, featuring a funeral organ and weird female vocals, creating a dissonant, completely psychotic atmosphere until some harsh screams and heavy guitars drag the listener into the depths of hell. Unfortunately, they can’t keep the same level during the whole work and it may get boring to listen to the whole album at once, although 'Colossal vision' is another track that stands out with its variation of themes and heaviness. Nevertheless, it is a remarkable debut from an interesting band, something the doom maniac should definately check out.	1. Alone 2. Gray Blow 3. Creative Lunacy 4. Autumn 5. Stench of Ishtar 6. Colossal Vision 7. Time Has Gone 8. The Trip Was Infra Green 9. Passe Tiermes Approx. 63 minutes Original release: Lethal Records (1993)
Reviewed by: Kostas Panagiotou
The second ring of power (CD) 1994 Avantgarde
O.K., I said that 'From the shadows' is a strange album, but then what is this? Unholy improved their unconventional blackdoom and made it more varied, but they fortunately didn’t change at all their intentions about making self-willed, trance-like music. Without any warning or introduction, the first track 'The second ring of power' rages like a madman throwing the listener against the wall. 'Languish for bliss' features some beautiful violin and romantic, poetic lyrics. But just when you think that they are becoming more atmospheric, some dissonant clean guitars introduce 'Lady babylon', a track with the most sick and weird female vocals I’ve ever heard. 'Neverending day' is a lethargic masterpiece and maybe the best song Unholy ever made, a perfect example of how sick and languid funeral doom can sound. Also 'Procession of black doom' is a masterpiece, combining a very dark atmosphere reminding of black metal and very heavy doom metal. Only the last track 'Serious Personality Disturbance and Deep Anxiety' is quite unnecessary and it should be mentioned in the Guiness Book of Records as the weirdest track ever written. But for the rest, this is a cult work from a cult band.	1. The Second Ring of Power 2. Languish For Bliss 3. Lady Babylon 4. Neverending Day 5. Dreamside 6. Procession of Black Doom 7. Covetous Glance 8. Air 9. Serious Personality Disturbance and Deep Anxiety Approx. 53 minutes
Reviewed by: Kostas Panagiotou
Rapture (CD) 1998 Avantgarde
After a long break, the avantgarde doom metallers from Finland return with their third album. They didn’t lose anything of the heaviness of their previous works, but now they added a feeling of melancholia to their music. Musically and through their artwork, Unholy take us back to the ice ages. The songs on this work sound like icecold, desolate hymns to the Northern nature. The lyrics are very poetic and complicated. The music sounds pretty simple at first sight, but once you catch the spirit of this work, its haunting melodies and depressive atmosphere never leave you any more. What sets Unholy apart from most other bands in the doom metal scene, is that their music is so unique and unconventional that it always stays interesting, because it’s too emotionally complicated to leave the listener indifferent. The acoustic intermezzo in the 13 minutes long doom epic 'Wunderwerck' lasts more than 5 minutes, proving that Unholy do only whatever they want to and that they don’t listen to any trends. I still wonder, where do so many Finnish bands get this suicidal melancholy that crashes the heart of every doom freak?	1. Into Cold Light 2. Petrified Spirits 3. For The Unknown One 4. Wunderwerck 5. After God 6. Unzeitgeist 7. Wretched 8. Deluge Approx. 67 minutes
Reviewed by: Kostas Panagiotou
Gracefallen (CD) 1999 Avantgarde
Less than 1 year after their previous release 'Rapture', the Finnish doomband Unholy sent their 4th effort towards the legions of depressive doomfreaks on this world. Whereas 'Rapture' was an album with a tad more aggressive feel to it, 'Gracefallen' is a bit slower and doomier. More effort and concentration have been put on the arrangements of the songs, and also the female vocal parts (sung by new band member Veera) are better than on their previous album. Unholy remains in their well known trancy, slow, melodic style, building up pure laments of sadness. With an average of 7 minutes per song, Unholy makes tracks with a length within the expectations of true doom-metal. Vocals are mixed male and female, also one instrumental song, called 'Haoma' is featured. Overall this album sounds rough, even brutal at moments, but always slow and doomy. Guitar parts are often very hypnotic, putting up very trancy atmospheres. This album is a great approval of the band's cult doom status.	1. ...Of Tragedy 2. Immaculate 3. Daybreak 4. When Truth Turns Its Head 5. Wanderer 6. Reek Of The Night 7. Haoma 8. Seeker 9. Athene Noctua Approx. 63 minutes
Reviewed by: Heiko Isselee