It is no secret that heavy metal has the ability to provoke feelings of empowerment and rebellion within its listeners. This psychological impact is perhaps no more powerfully demonstrated than with Unbowed’s debut LP, “Silent Weapons for a Quiet War“, set for independent release on 13th December, 2024. The album’s title might sound like something of a misnomer at first, since the auditory assault by this German band could be labelled as anything but muted. (On top of that, the sheer energy and capability on display is all the more impressive when you discover the line-up is comprised of just three musicians).
However, delve a little bit deeper into the lyrics and themes of each song and you’ll begin to understand its relation to the over-arching message – that systems of control are stealthily engaged in a war on our society. A statement that you would be hard-pressed to find much disagreement with, especially with the events of recent times. But far from surrendering to this sad reality, Unbowed are living up to their namesake, and fighting back. Taking position on the frontlines of this battle are the ever versatile band members: Vox Infernum (vocals / lyrics), Aetherius (guitar / synth / production) and Percival Drakon (bass / drums).
Their rebellious sentiments perfectly encapsulated in the band’s output, which is a mixture of melodic death metal, along with various elements of thrash, punk, and power metal. An inevitable comparison can be made to the likes of Arch Enemy, and while there are clearly similarities in approach, Unbowed do enough with their brand to successfully differentiate themselves, and stamp out their own patch of territory. Plus, the trio are united by a shared purpose, and strive to do more than just entertain listeners. As proponents with a steadfast dedication to social justice, feminism, and anti-capitalism, they all aspire to see their music used for education, and ultimately, a tool of resistance against the status quo.
The pen can’t topple thrones alone,
Unbowed – The Stone
We need more than words, we need the stone.
From thought to deed, the spark is cast,
Revolution born, breaking free at last.
Every resistance needs that initial spark, and this is exactly what occurs when agitating opener, “We Need A Stone“, comes crashing in through the speakers – an urgent call to action, and a rallying battle cry for all who are seeking to effect social change. Unbowed exhibit their distinct passion for this project by virtue of their unrestrained performances. Vox Infernum pushes her vocals to near breaking point on subsequent title track, “Silent Weapons For A Quiet War“, for instance; her sustained screams sharing the same sonic quality as white-noise at various points. That’s no real exaggeration either. The pitch she achieves is nothing short of mind-blowing during these exhilarating moments, and more resembling what you would expect to hear from a black metal singer.
Unbowed have no qualms about shifting the pace into a higher gear either, such as with the neck-breakingly kinetic, “General Energy Concepts“. Here Vox shows off a different aspect of her voice again, with a pronounced clean-style providing a sharp contrast to her aggressive default setting. Aetherius is given a little more room in the song to make his presence known as well, and showcase his sharp technical abilities as he chimes in more frequently with rich-sounding melodies. If I had to pick an early contender for hit single, this one would be up there as it has all the obvious hallmarks.
“4th Law of Motion” took me by surprise again with its unpredictability and Vox’s spoken-word passages, giving off a definite hip-hop vibe early on. Yet this was nothing compared to the ecstatic melding of Vox’s epic screams and the heavenly crescendos of Aetherius‘ weeping guitar solos that would appear later on in the track. There are several such high-points like this on the album, which is a good thing when you take into account its 14-track runtime, not to mention its unwavering focus on political and social issues. Yet thankfully the album never makes you feel as though you are being lectured, which can sometimes be a danger when advocacy collides with art. Here at least, it feels natural and organic.
“Hidden Hand” and “Programmed Consent” highlight the efficacy of propaganda and lack of education in controlling the masses, while injecting some cleaner guitar harmonies for the first time. Whereas the pulsing chaos and intensity of the aptly-named “Confused and Amused” will no doubt ensure that it becomes a crowd-favourite in the pit, and all the while simultaneously serving its more meaningful purpose as an allegory for an oppressed and ignorant society: “Keep them confused // Keep them amused“. Aetherius is heard igniting the tension in the air with his flaming hot guitar licks in the opening of “Between Knowing and Disbelief“, as Vox matter-of-factly and somewhat defeatedly expresses the massive mental hurdle that consistently has to be overcome in order to accept the overwhelming truth of our reality: “Blinded by disbelief // We stand paralysed // A conspiracy so vast // It defies our eyes“. Before calling attention to the importance of what is at stake with “Won’t Someone Think of the Children“. With all of this doom, you may not be expecting the shift back to a more positive and inspiring tone, but it arrives with “99 Percent“, emphasising the strength of the silent majority, and how much power lies with the people. You can just feel the winds of change propelling Unbowed to the album’s conclusion, and the group is likely hoping this same momentous energy reverberates with listeners even after the last note is played. Their brave defiance and determination, and the way it has been expertly delivered in such premium musical fashion, is definitely persuasive enough to believe it might!
Verdict: Female-led melodic death metal bands are few and far between, so it is always a welcome occasion to discover another, particularly when they are of such high quality as Germany’s Unbowed. Their debut LP, “Silent Weapons for a Silent War”, establishes them as a force to be reckoned with, and one that is motivated by noble causes. It’s hard not to imagine them attracting a wide legion of followers as a result.
