I loved the Halo Effect’s debut from 2022 Days of the Lost. I liked it more than any album In Flames has done since Reroute to Remain. A band made up of members of In Flames during the Lunar Strain era is what melodic death metal needs given how soft Amon Amarth, In Flames, and Arch Enemy have gotten. I’m looking forward to checking out this album tomorrow.
I met these guys at Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023, and they couldn't have been nicer. The Halo Effect picked up the torch that In Flames dropped and ran with it.
Colony (In Flames) was my intro to melodeath around 1/4 of a century ago, so this stuff is like comfort food. Mikael Stanne is one of my favorite vocalists, too. I like Cemetery Skyline, so I'm happy that we'll get more of his clean vocals here, too.
This album brought me back to my teenage years when I was sitting on the bus after school, blasting In Flames, Dark Tranquilly, Soilwork and Arch Enemy. Good times. Im going to see them on the 25th Jan and I really cannot wait. I'm gonna buy and wear one of their t shirt's from the merch booth, have a couple of beers and have a BLAST!
It's been a while since you've done a reviewing every album by legendary metal bands video. Two bands I want to see you do are Exodus (new album in 2025 and 40th anniversary of Bonded by Blood) and Decapitated (one of technical death metal's elite bands. Also great to see them touring the US more.)
I really enjoyed Days of the Lost, as it truly felt like a return to the Gothenburg sound. In an apples to apples comparison how do you feel March of the Unheard stacks up to Days of the Lost? As an aside a 4-5 score sounds very encouraging. As for another recommendation that comes out tomorrow, I'm currently really enjoying the Antinomian Asceticism by Scottish black metal band Barshasketh.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial That works for me. Always love albums to have fun with, so I'm going to throw on my neck speaker and freak out some normies via the Halo Effect while I'm on the ice playing hockey with my son.
This is a major improvement over their first album in my opinion. Glad I gave this band a second chance. They sound more confident and more comfortable here. The writing is much more dynamic and stronger in a lot of the songs. The bastard child of modern Dark Tranquillity and older In Flames. Color me surprised!
Hahaha had the exat same journey. Leaned clearly to a strong solid 3 but a clear tad below a solid 4. Then I out on in my gym on my massive cerwin vega speakers from the late 70's and instantly felt: this is a supersolid 4 withouth a doubt!
I agree a 4/5 is more fair than 3.5/5. You can't expect bands with 30+ years of experience to push the boundaries for a genre, but they sure can make great records.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial After the first listen of the new album, I am also at 4/5, loved a few songs, but wasn't the surprise of their first one (5/5), listening to In Flames after two decades.
I think In Flames became a bad band just because of their vocalist. Now Michalle Stanne makes the difference. He and the former members of In Flames (Stanne also was a member of In Flames before he founded Dark Tranquillity.) got together and created The Halo Effect band. And they all shined in both albums.
Great album just did a first listen with a buddy. He's not a huge In Flames fan. More into modern sounding bands. Tries to get me to listen Siren Charms. I'm like nah bro Whoracle, Clayman and Come Clarity are where it's at. Siren Charms is bottom tier. Also Forgone is super solid. I, the Mask to a lesser extent.
This band does not really do much of anything to me, I dont even think I got any sort of emotional reaction to their first record either. Yeah they do the sound properly but for some reason it just dont hit me in pretty much any way. I have nostalgia for the old Gothenburg sound albums but maybe im tired and bored of the sound in general then..
I disagree when you said In Flames is mainstream. They still never had a rock radio hit song npr dp they headline arenas or stadiums (still only playing 3000 cap theaters.) Yes their early albums are influential, but I'd still argue that there is a substantial division of metalheads who don't know about them because they're too old and only stick with radio bands.
Not many bands that can play their style of music can say they sold over 2 million records. To put it in perspective Cannibal Corpse the biggest death metal band who even appeared in a main stream comedy and came around when these older people were still fairly young has sold the same amount of albums. Iron Maiden and Metallica didn't sell albums the way they did because they are great metal they did so because they are great rock something death metal as much as I love it can never be.
I loved the Halo Effect’s debut from 2022 Days of the Lost. I liked it more than any album In Flames has done since Reroute to Remain. A band made up of members of In Flames during the Lunar Strain era is what melodic death metal needs given how soft Amon Amarth, In Flames, and Arch Enemy have gotten. I’m looking forward to checking out this album tomorrow.
Ok, but he's talking about the new album.
@cwrichardson3 I know, this review was posted one day before the new album came out. I actually think the new album is better than Days of the Lost.
Yes! I loved their debut too. Very excited to check out their new one!!
Haha I put it a clear notch above reroute !
I dont think January has been this huge for YEARS. I cant wait to see where this band goes!
Fr, a lot of semi-big and interesting releases these next few weeks
Great review great band I'm looking forward to the album tomorrow.
I met these guys at Milwaukee Metal Fest 2023, and they couldn't have been nicer. The Halo Effect picked up the torch that In Flames dropped and ran with it.
Thanks for putting this on my radar, it’s a solid listen.
Can’t wait for this album, hopefully the preorder shows up tomorrow!
Colony (In Flames) was my intro to melodeath around 1/4 of a century ago, so this stuff is like comfort food. Mikael Stanne is one of my favorite vocalists, too. I like Cemetery Skyline, so I'm happy that we'll get more of his clean vocals here, too.
This album brought me back to my teenage years when I was sitting on the bus after school, blasting In Flames, Dark Tranquilly, Soilwork and Arch Enemy. Good times. Im going to see them on the 25th Jan and I really cannot wait. I'm gonna buy and wear one of their t shirt's from the merch booth, have a couple of beers and have a BLAST!
Great review, can’t wait to check it out
I have been in a melo death mood lately. This album fucking rules its so good and right in the pocket of what i'm loving right now
I really loved the halo effects debut album. Dark Tranquillity has been carrying the melodeath torch for awhile now. Cheers
I met MIkael Stanne a few years ago. I wish I could've told him that he looks like the Dr. Squatch y
Lowkey, i kinda forgot this thing was coming out 💀, will definitely give it a shot. Had a field day with their debut album.
It's been a while since you've done a reviewing every album by legendary metal bands video. Two bands I want to see you do are Exodus (new album in 2025 and 40th anniversary of Bonded by Blood) and Decapitated (one of technical death metal's elite bands. Also great to see them touring the US more.)
Exodus probably, Decapitated maybe. In general I'm thinking less and less about those kinds of videos, it just doesn't interest me as much anymore.
I really enjoyed Days of the Lost, as it truly felt like a return to the Gothenburg sound. In an apples to apples comparison how do you feel March of the Unheard stacks up to Days of the Lost? As an aside a 4-5 score sounds very encouraging. As for another recommendation that comes out tomorrow, I'm currently really enjoying the Antinomian Asceticism by Scottish black metal band Barshasketh.
I feel its a bit better, stronger and more memorable. Like, I feel like I had more fun with this than I did with the debut.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial That works for me. Always love albums to have fun with, so I'm going to throw on my neck speaker and freak out some normies via the Halo Effect while I'm on the ice playing hockey with my son.
Haven't heard any of the singles, but I am looking forward to going into this fresh tomorrow!
Very solid album!
This is a major improvement over their first album in my opinion. Glad I gave this band a second chance.
They sound more confident and more comfortable here. The writing is much more dynamic and stronger in a lot of the songs. The bastard child of modern Dark Tranquillity and older In Flames. Color me surprised!
will be seeing them later this month with PAIN
Hahaha had the exat same journey. Leaned clearly to a strong solid 3 but a clear tad below a solid 4. Then I out on in my gym on my massive cerwin vega speakers from the late 70's and instantly felt: this is a supersolid 4 withouth a doubt!
I love this album! I loved the debut, but in my opinion this is so much better.
The Halo Effect rules
You gotta check out No Cure - I Hope I Die Hear
Nice facial hair. It reminds me that i got to a point in my life where i'm growing a moustache and a beard from the sides.
I agree a 4/5 is more fair than 3.5/5. You can't expect bands with 30+ years of experience to push the boundaries for a genre, but they sure can make great records.
I hope you check the debut album "Gemini" by Sulfator, technical death in the vein of Obscura :)
Isn't it more like in flames 1.0 rather than 2.0?
The halo effect is what I have in my in flames playlist after clayman.
@@aresgalamatis7022 smart fella
@@themetalmeltdownofficial After the first listen of the new album, I am also at 4/5, loved a few songs, but wasn't the surprise of their first one (5/5), listening to In Flames after two decades.
Great review. Got to hear this one early too, my favorite tune was Between Directions, super theatrical and edgy
my favorite was Coda. I love good interludes!
I am psyched for this Album 👍🤘🤘
Good album! I think it's a bit better than their first.
I think In Flames became a bad band just because of their vocalist. Now Michalle Stanne makes the difference. He and the former members of In Flames (Stanne also was a member of In Flames before he founded Dark Tranquillity.) got together and created The Halo Effect band. And they all shined in both albums.
Great album just did a first listen with a buddy. He's not a huge In Flames fan. More into modern sounding bands. Tries to get me to listen Siren Charms. I'm like nah bro Whoracle, Clayman and Come Clarity are where it's at. Siren Charms is bottom tier. Also Forgone is super solid. I, the Mask to a lesser extent.
No Glenn Ljungstrom, no In Flames
To me the whole album is great except for the 2 songs with clean vocals 😅
Your forgetting Dark Tranquillity, who i think are better anyway 😅
This band does not really do much of anything to me, I dont even think I got any sort of emotional reaction to their first record either. Yeah they do the sound properly but for some reason it just dont hit me in pretty much any way. I have nostalgia for the old Gothenburg sound albums but maybe im tired and bored of the sound in general then..
Nu snackar vi! 🇸🇪 🤘🤘 🇸🇪
I disagree when you said In Flames is mainstream. They still never had a rock radio hit song npr dp they headline arenas or stadiums (still only playing 3000 cap theaters.) Yes their early albums are influential, but I'd still argue that there is a substantial division of metalheads who don't know about them because they're too old and only stick with radio bands.
Not many bands that can play their style of music can say they sold over 2 million records. To put it in perspective Cannibal Corpse the biggest death metal band who even appeared in a main stream comedy and came around when these older people were still fairly young has sold the same amount of albums. Iron Maiden and Metallica didn't sell albums the way they did because they are great metal they did so because they are great rock something death metal as much as I love it can never be.
toothless, inoffensive pop metal.