THE UNITY was formed in 2016 by guitarist Henjo Richter (GAMMA RAY) and drummer Michael Ehré (GAMMA RAY, METALIUM, ex-FIREWIND). In the group we also find the guitarist Stef, the keyboardist Sascha Onnen and the singer Gianbattista “Gianba” Manenti, as well as the new bassist Tobias “Eggi” Exxel (EDGUY). The band has made three great studio records before this new one. Two years ago they released their very first and amazing live album, “The Devil You Know – Live”, which in my opinion is this group’s best material. In fact, all four productions have been successful and ”The Hellish Joyride” will probably be no exception.

As usual, the band produced themselves, with Ehré in charge. Like THE UNITY’s previous disc “Pride” (2020), the tracks on “The Hellish Joyride” was mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler (AVANTASIA, HAMMERFALL, HELLOWEEN, among others). The artwork on the group’s live material was made by Felipe Machado Franco and their mascot “Dave” was born. The new album cover also has Felipe’s signature and we see Dave as the main character again.

The speed is very fast in ”Masterpiece”, which is fuelled by furious guitar riffs, but mixed with a nice melody. The pace of Michael’s pumping drumbeats accelerates. We hear an exuberant guitar solo. The group generally seems to have shifted into another higher gear, which “Saints And Sinners” in particular is a good example of. It is the fastest song in the band’s history, with 153 beats per minute. The song begins with the keyboardist building up an exciting atmosphere, before the track gallops away in Speed Metal tempo, leaving me slightly out of breath. Despite that, I have to say that all the musicians impress. Stef’s and Henjo’s fingers move incredibly quickly over the strings without stumbling. They manage to make it sound very nice. The double guitar solo contains Classical music influences.

My personal favorite is “Golden Sun”. It has a lovely rhythm and enjoyable atmosphere. Here is a nice groove and the guitar solo is fantastic, which together with the music in the chorus give a warm and pleasant feeling. One song that got better every time was “Stay The Fool”. You can hear a delightful thumping and sliding by bass tones here and there. “You’re Not Forced To Stay” is a soft and gentle ending of the album. The track is relaxing to listen to.

The material can sometimes be harder and faster, but there are always harmonious melodies and a good balance in the music. The guitar playing that is performed together or alternated between Richter and Stef has a lively spark. They deliver a rich sound from the guitars, which a couple of times slide up and flicks into a higher key, like a cool detail.

The band has developed a lot since the first record, but their content-rich and full-bodied sound remains. The debut had a more even style and contained no Speed Metal, something that has sneaked into some songs on the other albums and is especially noticeable on the new “The Hellish Joyride”. As always, there are also Melodic Rock songs and everything in between. What characterizes THE UNITY has become to have a wide range in their Hardrock music.

The members have always had a positive energy and with the new bassist they seem to have got an extra dose of exuberant liveliness. They are also very skilled songsmiths, often with catchy choruses. The singer has a strong and good voice. Manenti has vocal resources that take him from the bottom of the scale up to the top without any problems. The guitarists are superb.

As usual, THE UNITY delivers a strong and varied material, which maintains the same high quality as their previous studio albums. The title fits very well, because with a glimpse of fun in their eyes they give us a hell of a ride! (Anna)

Bewertung:

 8,5 / 10

Anzahl der Songs: 12
Spielzeit: 49:27 min
Label: Steamhammer/SPV
Veröffentlichungstermin: 25.08.2023