The Unity (GERMANY)

[Horex]

The Unity - The Unity (Digipak Edition) (2017)













Year : 2017
Style : Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 168 mb

Bio:

When haunting songs at the interface between hard rock and melodic metal meet with the excellent musical skills and extensive experience of all musicians involved, the result is bound to be brilliant. UNITY are a prime example of this, all musical parameters pointing to an outstanding act with a promising future. After all, UNITY is the new group founded by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehré (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar). Richter has been part of the Hamburg power metal outfit for some twenty years, while Ehré’s CV includes – prior to his joining the Gamma Ray fold in 2012 – renowned names such as Firewind, Uli Jon Roth and Unisonic, to name but a few. UNITY have spent almost 18 months working flat out on their first album, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV in spring 2017. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict a bright future for this band.After all, in UNITY the two instrumentalists and composers Richter and Ehré have surrounded themselves with excellent colleagues who not only share their artistic vision but have already played live on stage with them in other constellations: many fans have been familiar with exceptional Italian vocalist Gianba Manenti, guitarist Stef E, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen since the launch of Ehré’s group Love.Might.Kill, which has released two albums to date and played shows in a large number of European countries.The initial inspiration for UNITY is impossible to pin down to a definite date but was apparently an extended and increasingly tangible process. “During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond Gamma Ray in another band,” Richter explains. Michael Ehré adds: “Our artistic ideas are on the one hand so similar that we arrive at a common denominator most of the time and on the other hand they’re different enough to ensure a diverse album that doesn’t sound boring for a second. Particularly as this band consists of six first-rate songwriters.”Every note of their eponymously titled debut album oozes the great creative potential of all band members: powerful numbers such as the fast and tough ´Rise And Fall` and the grooving ´No More Lies` with its dynamic guitar riff and melodious chorus are just as symptomatic for the group’s unbridled energy as the slow, doom-laden ´God Of Temptation` which features a latent Black Sabbath flair thanks to its distinctive guitar hook.In addition, there are unusual tracks which lend the album its special note. ´Close To Crazy`, for example, lives up to its “crazy” title and puts the pedal to the metal throughout its barely three minutes playing time. By contrast, there’s ´Never Forget`, the recording’s most melodic and catchy song featuring a chorus completely in major key, an anthemnic vocal line and atmospheric keyboard parts that virtually live up to Journey standards. In line with this is the lyric which sees UNITY confess to their own origins and to the music they grew up with.The UNITY debut was produced by the musicians themselves, mostly at Ehré’s own B Castle Studio and mixed and mastered by Spain’s Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio. The impressive cover artwork, penned by Alexander Mertsch who has worked for the likes of Deep Purple, Gamma Ray, Status Quo and Europe, also deserves a mention.There’s no two ways about it – this is an album recorded by real masters of their trade, and their first release is eagerly awaited. After all, the name says it all – UNITY are guaranteed to unite fans of both hard rock and melodic metal.

Album:

Ah, melodic heavy metal, a hybrid invention with the purpose of injecting power to hard rock and AOR. Many bands have adventured through this dangerous – and blasphemous, to the most purist of headbangers – genre, taking advantage of its cheesiness, hooks and catchy nature. The Unity is another one of those bands, but with a catch: two of its members are known for their contribution to the power metal community, being them GammaRay members Henjo Richter (guitars) and Michael Ehré (drums, also ex-Metalium). Perhaps tired of making the same riffs and leads tried to exhaustion in power metal, Richter decided to do something very, very different: play the same riffs and leads elsewhere tried to exhaustion in hard rock/melodic metal. Shocking, huh?Be it as it may, the two gathered some firepower to put their project to life and wound up recruiting Ehré Love.Might.Kill bandmates Gianba Manenti (vocals), Stefan Ellerhorst (guitars) Jogi Sweers (bass) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards), forming The Unity. Their first full-length effort is bound to be released on May 5th via SPV/Steamhammer and according to the band themselves, “When haunting songs at the interface between hard rock and melodic metal meet with the excellent musical skills and extensive experience of all musicians involved, the result is bound to be brilliant.“s it, though? Well, not quite so, and it’s not even close. There are certainly some winners in ‘The Unity’, but these are exceptions to the rule. The album has a couple of filler tunes and some completely disposable passages, so to call it “brilliant” is at least ludicrous. Opener “Rise and Fall” is a good effort that flirts with the more metal side of things. Packed with double-pedal drumming and really good guitar work, the song reminds an early Herman Frank tune, especially because of Manenti’s vocal resemblance to Jiotis Parcharidis’ (ex-Herman Frank, ex-Victory, ex-Human Fortress).Also in the win department are the very interesting “God of Temptation”, the bombastic “Firesign” and the more cadenced but very competent “Killer Instinct”. The three, along with the already mentioned “Rise and Fall”, are the glue that holds the album together and the main reason why I didn’t gave the record a lower rating. “God of Temptation” is awesome and epic, with a vibe that takes us back to the great days of ‘The Eternal Idol’ and ‘Headless Cross’-era Black Sabbath and “Firesign” is the opposite, being upbeat and with catchier and more unpretentious lines, while “Killer Instinct” provides a good balance between heaviness and melody.The downside of the album is its middle portion. The uninspired ballad “Always Just You” and the ridiculous “Close to Crazy” see the band trying too much to accomplish a laid-back and cool vibe, which backfires completely. “The Wishing Well”, “Edens Fire” and “Redeemer” are just ok but too generic, and none of them feature any sort of climax nor take off in a bombastic or remarkable way. The first and second ones have that Euro “pop-ish” atmosphere distillated by bands such as H.E.A.T. and Harem Scarem, while the third one brings a rock ‘n’ roll attitude to the table with lots of guitar distortions and a 1980’s keyboard background. “Never Forget” closes the album and, ironically enough, it’s best that we forget about it altogether. It’s too “happy” instrumental-wise and tries too hard to be emotional; diabetics, stay the hell away from this one.To be brilliant in an ever-increasing genre – which is quickly becoming stale, as every other do from time to time – as hard/melodic metal is no small feat, so when you actually say that the result of your album “is bound to be brilliant”, you better know what the hell you’re talking about. Sadly for Richter, Ehré and their loyal rocker friends, brilliant is not a word I would associate ‘The Unity’ with. Instead, I find the album to be in the thin line between just decent and being good, and even not being a fan of this genre, I know for a fact that there are way better displays out there released this year, like Eclipse’s ‘Momentum’, Brother Firetribe’s ‘Sunbound’ and One Desire’s homonyms album.With that being said, the record is good enough to please the hardcore hard rock/melodic metal fan, while being utterly forgettable to everyone else. Production and execution-wise, though, it’s a great effort, but the compositions fall short of mesmerizing or surprising the listener in any way. The band has yet to find its identity, and knowing the musicians and their experience with this sort of thing, it should blossom with another album or two. Until then, Richter and Ehré are better off sticking to Gamma Ray.

Line Up:

Gianba Manenti - Vocals
Henjo Richter - Guitar
Stef E - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards
Michael Ehré - Drums

Tracklist:

01. Rise And Fall
02. No More Lies
03. God Of Temptation
04. Firesign
05. Always Just You
06. Close To Crazy
07. The Wishing Well
08. Edens Fall
09. Redeemer
10. Super Distortion
11. Killer Instinct
12. Never Forget

+ Video "No More Lies" (Official Video)




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

The Unity - Pride (2CD) (Limited Edition Boxset) (2020)













Year : 2020
Style : Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 174 mb

Bio:

When haunting songs at the interface between hard rock and melodic metal meet with the excellent musical skills and extensive experience of all musicians involved, the result is bound to be brilliant. UNITY are a prime example of this, all musical parameters pointing to an outstanding act with a promising future. After all, UNITY is the new group founded by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehré (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar). Richter has been part of the Hamburg power metal outfit for some twenty years, while Ehré’s CV includes – prior to his joining the Gamma Ray fold in 2012 – renowned names such as Firewind, Uli Jon Roth and Unisonic, to name but a few. UNITY have spent almost 18 months working flat out on their first album, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV in spring 2017. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict a bright future for this band.After all, in UNITY the two instrumentalists and composers Richter and Ehré have surrounded themselves with excellent colleagues who not only share their artistic vision but have already played live on stage with them in other constellations: many fans have been familiar with exceptional Italian vocalist Gianba Manenti, guitarist Stef E, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen since the launch of Ehré’s group Love.Might.Kill, which has released two albums to date and played shows in a large number of European countries.The initial inspiration for UNITY is impossible to pin down to a definite date but was apparently an extended and increasingly tangible process. “During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond Gamma Ray in another band,” Richter explains. Michael Ehré adds: “Our artistic ideas are on the one hand so similar that we arrive at a common denominator most of the time and on the other hand they’re different enough to ensure a diverse album that doesn’t sound boring for a second. Particularly as this band consists of six first-rate songwriters.”Every note of their eponymously titled debut album oozes the great creative potential of all band members: powerful numbers such as the fast and tough ´Rise And Fall` and the grooving ´No More Lies` with its dynamic guitar riff and melodious chorus are just as symptomatic for the group’s unbridled energy as the slow, doom-laden ´God Of Temptation` which features a latent Black Sabbath flair thanks to its distinctive guitar hook.In addition, there are unusual tracks which lend the album its special note. ´Close To Crazy`, for example, lives up to its “crazy” title and puts the pedal to the metal throughout its barely three minutes playing time. By contrast, there’s ´Never Forget`, the recording’s most melodic and catchy song featuring a chorus completely in major key, an anthemnic vocal line and atmospheric keyboard parts that virtually live up to Journey standards. In line with this is the lyric which sees UNITY confess to their own origins and to the music they grew up with.The UNITY debut was produced by the musicians themselves, mostly at Ehré’s own B Castle Studio and mixed and mastered by Spain’s Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio. The impressive cover artwork, penned by Alexander Mertsch who has worked for the likes of Deep Purple, Gamma Ray, Status Quo and Europe, also deserves a mention.There’s no two ways about it – this is an album recorded by real masters of their trade, and their first release is eagerly awaited. After all, the name says it all – UNITY are guaranteed to unite fans of both hard rock and melodic metal.

Album:

Following two successful studio albums ("The Unity" in 2017 and "Rise" in 2018), tours with Axel Rudi Pell, Edguy and Sinner, among others, not to mention their own headlining shows and performances at renowned festivals all over Europe, the latest album release by power metal act The Unity, entitled "Pride", documents the band’s consistent and at the same time impressive development. “I’d describe our current material not merely as an evolvement, because every band evolves in one way or another. In fact, I’m pretty proud of what we’ve achieved so far, not only in musical terms but also on a personal level”, says Gianbattista Manenti, Italian vocalist of the tight unit, as he likes to refer to it, consisting of himself, drummer Michael Ehré (Primal Fear, Gamma Ray, Firewind), guitarists Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray) and Stef, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen. In view of increasingly nationalistic tendencies worldwide and misconceived patriotism, it may not be altogether innocuous to voice a pride in your own achievements, yet pride in itself is apolitical and lacks any kind of political undertones. So there are not only valid but also exclusively artistic reasons that made The Unity decide to combine their eleven new songs (plus intro) under the heading of "Pride". Every single note speaks of that homogeneity, no matter how noisy or how quiet, tough or mellow, determined or laidback its delivery.

Line Up:

Gianba Manenti - Vocals
Henjo Richter - Guitar
Stef E - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards
Michael Ehré - Drums

Tracklist:

CD1: "Pride"

01. The New Pandora
02. Hands Of Time
03. Line And Sinker
04. We Don't Need Them Here
05. Destination Unknown
06. Angel Of Dawn
07. Damn Nation
08. Wave Of Fear
09. Guess How I Hate This
10. Scenery Of Hate
11. Rusty Cadillac
12. You Don't Walk Alone

CD2: "Loud And Proud"

01. The Storm (live)
02. The Willow Tree (live)
03. You Got Me Wrong (live)
04. Never Forget (live)
05. Nowhereland




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

The Unity - Rise (Japan Edition) (2018)













Year : 2018
Style : Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 202 mb

Bio:

When haunting songs at the interface between hard rock and melodic metal meet with the excellent musical skills and extensive experience of all musicians involved, the result is bound to be brilliant. UNITY are a prime example of this, all musical parameters pointing to an outstanding act with a promising future. After all, UNITY is the new group founded by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehré (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar). Richter has been part of the Hamburg power metal outfit for some twenty years, while Ehré’s CV includes – prior to his joining the Gamma Ray fold in 2012 – renowned names such as Firewind, Uli Jon Roth and Unisonic, to name but a few. UNITY have spent almost 18 months working flat out on their first album, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV in spring 2017. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict a bright future for this band.After all, in UNITY the two instrumentalists and composers Richter and Ehré have surrounded themselves with excellent colleagues who not only share their artistic vision but have already played live on stage with them in other constellations: many fans have been familiar with exceptional Italian vocalist Gianba Manenti, guitarist Stef E, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen since the launch of Ehré’s group Love.Might.Kill, which has released two albums to date and played shows in a large number of European countries.The initial inspiration for UNITY is impossible to pin down to a definite date but was apparently an extended and increasingly tangible process. “During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond Gamma Ray in another band,” Richter explains. Michael Ehré adds: “Our artistic ideas are on the one hand so similar that we arrive at a common denominator most of the time and on the other hand they’re different enough to ensure a diverse album that doesn’t sound boring for a second. Particularly as this band consists of six first-rate songwriters.”Every note of their eponymously titled debut album oozes the great creative potential of all band members: powerful numbers such as the fast and tough ´Rise And Fall` and the grooving ´No More Lies` with its dynamic guitar riff and melodious chorus are just as symptomatic for the group’s unbridled energy as the slow, doom-laden ´God Of Temptation` which features a latent Black Sabbath flair thanks to its distinctive guitar hook.In addition, there are unusual tracks which lend the album its special note. ´Close To Crazy`, for example, lives up to its “crazy” title and puts the pedal to the metal throughout its barely three minutes playing time. By contrast, there’s ´Never Forget`, the recording’s most melodic and catchy song featuring a chorus completely in major key, an anthemnic vocal line and atmospheric keyboard parts that virtually live up to Journey standards. In line with this is the lyric which sees UNITY confess to their own origins and to the music they grew up with.The UNITY debut was produced by the musicians themselves, mostly at Ehré’s own B Castle Studio and mixed and mastered by Spain’s Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio. The impressive cover artwork, penned by Alexander Mertsch who has worked for the likes of Deep Purple, Gamma Ray, Status Quo and Europe, also deserves a mention.There’s no two ways about it – this is an album recorded by real masters of their trade, and their first release is eagerly awaited. After all, the name says it all – UNITY are guaranteed to unite fans of both hard rock and melodic metal.

Album:

Only about a year and a half after the arrival of its self-titled debut album, German-Italian melodic metal act THE UNITY is ready to strike again: September 14 will see the release of the band's follow-up effort, "Rise", on SPV/Steamhammer. This already appeared Japanese edition includes 3 bonus tracks.The Unity continues to consist of Gamma Ray members drummer Michael Ehré (ex Firewind, Uli Jon Roth and Unisonic) and Henjo Richter (guitar), plus second axeman Stef, vocalist Gianbattista Manenti, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen.But this is a different musical beast than Gamma Ray; The Unity mix classic melodic metal with groovy hard rock and a touch of edgy AOR, and darn - they are fabulous.After intro 'Revenge', proper opener 'Last Betrayal' is a statement of intent: fast, forceful, heavy but clean, which highlights the marvelous voice of Manenti and the technical quality of all musicians involved.Follower 'You Got Me Wrong' is even better, with its great chorus to listen to over and over again, powerful guitars and a monster groovy bass line.The melodies are increasing with 'The Storm', embellished with keyboard arrangements in the classic melodic metal vein, then 'Road To Nowhere' kicks with its thick double guitar attack and busy drumming.With 'Welcome Home' The Unity shows their more commercial side, great rhythm and a joyful melody with a clear '80s feeling in the chorus. A personal favorite.'All That Is Real' is a very good midtempo rocker plenty of soaring vocals and more keyboard presence which I like a lot. It pick up the pace at the end, to fit follower 'No Hero', a heavier number with a little power metal touch.'The Willow Tree' is another highlight, a slow paced tune with stupendous technical and composition quality, heartbreaking vocals and a melodic guitar solo.'Above Everything' is different from the rest, a welcomed variation where The Unity offers a particular way to assemble the verses and chorus, then 'Better Day' delivers another catchy melody over a structure with a certain hard rock hook.Closer 'L.I.F.E.' is some kind of an epic midtempo with an AOR touch, nice keys, soaring vocals and again, complete guitar work. A winner.Japanese edition bonus tracks are 3 songs from the band's first album performed live, perfectly recorded and showcasing how good The Unity are on stage as well.The Unity is a terrific combo, and while they are tagged as commercial power metal, on "Rise" they blend into the mix traditional melodic metal, potent hard rock groove, and even catchy AORish melodies, edgy, but incredibly pristine and clean.With a superb production sound, there's something for everyone in this album, a killer collection of songs with attention to detail and wonderful melodies.

Line Up:

Gianba Manenti - Vocals
Henjo Richter - Guitar
Stef E - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards
Michael Ehré - Drums

Tracklist:

01. Revenge
02. Last Betrayal
03. You Got Me Wrong
04. The Storm
05. Road to Nowhere
06. Welcome Home
07. All That Is Real
08. No Hero
09. The Willow Tree
10. Above Everything
11. Children of the Light
12. Better Day
13. L.I.F.E.
14. No More Lies (Live) (Bonus Track)
15. God of Temptation (Live) (Bonus Track)
16. Close to Crazy (Live) (Bonus Track)

+ Video "The Storm" (Official Video)




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

The Unity - The Hellish Joyride (2023)













Year : 2023
Style : Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 117 mb

Bio:

When haunting songs at the interface between hard rock and melodic metal meet with the excellent musical skills and extensive experience of all musicians involved, the result is bound to be brilliant. UNITY are a prime example of this, all musical parameters pointing to an outstanding act with a promising future. After all, UNITY is the new group founded by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehré (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar). Richter has been part of the Hamburg power metal outfit for some twenty years, while Ehré’s CV includes – prior to his joining the Gamma Ray fold in 2012 – renowned names such as Firewind, Uli Jon Roth and Unisonic, to name but a few. UNITY have spent almost 18 months working flat out on their first album, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV in spring 2017. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict a bright future for this band.After all, in UNITY the two instrumentalists and composers Richter and Ehré have surrounded themselves with excellent colleagues who not only share their artistic vision but have already played live on stage with them in other constellations: many fans have been familiar with exceptional Italian vocalist Gianba Manenti, guitarist Stef E, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen since the launch of Ehré’s group Love.Might.Kill, which has released two albums to date and played shows in a large number of European countries.The initial inspiration for UNITY is impossible to pin down to a definite date but was apparently an extended and increasingly tangible process. “During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond Gamma Ray in another band,” Richter explains. Michael Ehré adds: “Our artistic ideas are on the one hand so similar that we arrive at a common denominator most of the time and on the other hand they’re different enough to ensure a diverse album that doesn’t sound boring for a second. Particularly as this band consists of six first-rate songwriters.”Every note of their eponymously titled debut album oozes the great creative potential of all band members: powerful numbers such as the fast and tough ´Rise And Fall` and the grooving ´No More Lies` with its dynamic guitar riff and melodious chorus are just as symptomatic for the group’s unbridled energy as the slow, doom-laden ´God Of Temptation` which features a latent Black Sabbath flair thanks to its distinctive guitar hook.In addition, there are unusual tracks which lend the album its special note. ´Close To Crazy`, for example, lives up to its “crazy” title and puts the pedal to the metal throughout its barely three minutes playing time. By contrast, there’s ´Never Forget`, the recording’s most melodic and catchy song featuring a chorus completely in major key, an anthemnic vocal line and atmospheric keyboard parts that virtually live up to Journey standards. In line with this is the lyric which sees UNITY confess to their own origins and to the music they grew up with.The UNITY debut was produced by the musicians themselves, mostly at Ehré’s own B Castle Studio and mixed and mastered by Spain’s Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio. The impressive cover artwork, penned by Alexander Mertsch who has worked for the likes of Deep Purple, Gamma Ray, Status Quo and Europe, also deserves a mention.There’s no two ways about it – this is an album recorded by real masters of their trade, and their first release is eagerly awaited. After all, the name says it all – UNITY are guaranteed to unite fans of both hard rock and melodic metal.

Album:

Get ready for some hellish metal pleasure: following four successful albums - "The Unity" (2017), "Rise" (2018), "Pride" (2020) and "The Devil You Know - Live" (2021) - European tours as headlining act or alongside bands such as Sinner, Axel Rudi Pell and Rhapsody Of Fire, celebrated shows at Masters Of Rock, the Knockout Festival and Bang Your Head, The Unity's fifth release "The Hellish Joyride" presents the band from a more playful and varied side than ever before.

Line Up:

Gianba Manenti - Vocals
Henjo Richter - Guitar
Stef E - Guitar
Tobias Exxel - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards
Michael Ehré - Drums

Tracklist:

01. One World
02. Masterpiece
03. The Hellish Joyride
04. Only The Good Die Young
05. Saints And Sinners
06. Something Good
07. Always Two Ways To Play
08. Awakening
09. Golden Sun
10. Stay The Fool
11. Never Surrender
12. You're Not Forced To Stay




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/