Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Unsilent Phenomenon – The Renouncement – 2005 – Independent

Track Listing 1. The Renouncement 2. Prisoner 3. Apocalypse 4. Lover Diablo 5. Prince Of Darkness 6. When The Night Comes

To be honest, I have never heard of this band, much less, any band from Russia, so to say that I had a clue of what to expect is a blatant lie.

Unsilent Phenomenon, a melodic death metal group that calls Russia home, saw its inception in 2003. The members are Max Kljuchnikov (Guitars & Vocals), Sergey Balyakin (Guitars), Konstàntin Adàmenko (Bass), Anton Topchàev (Keyboards), and Aleksàndr Bozhenko (Drums). Along with doing cover tunes at various shows, they also did original tunes. In 2005, six of these originals made up “The Renouncement”.

This is a conceptual record showing that every human being has a dark side. During the opening track, there is an intensity present that has the ability to make a great demo if they can stay at, or rise above this bar that they set. The following track tried, but it was their power metal background that won out in the end. With melodic death switching to power vocals, this song is reminiscent of “If Tomorrow’s Gone” by Gardenian. The sole difference is Gardenian was able to bring it back to death metal and Unsilent Phenomenon wasn’t able to successfully master that transition. Never fear, by the closing track on this album the band had mastered this technique. Although my personal favorite “Lover Diablo” exploded and showed the strongest style that the band offered, it was overshadowed by the surrounding tracks. Power metal is great, hair metal is great, but the combination of those two styles with the melodic death sound that they were gunning for backfired tremendously.

Let’s just stand back for a second and look at the entire picture. Yes, they simply look like a couple of glam band rejects. About half of this album leaves something to be desired, thus, unfortunately, this is not a commanding start. However, how can anyone forget 1993, a little known band that made one of the worst demos ever created. That band’s name is none other than Gothenburg’s own, In Flames. I hated their demo but they had talent, potential, and determination. Look at the band (until 2000) and try to tell them to go away. My point is that Unsilent Phenomenon poses a gift. And if that gift is used right, we will have seen the next COB, In Flames, Arch Enemy, or even Gardenian emerging in front of our very own eyes. With their power metal background and raw talent the possibilities are endless.

Rating: 7/10, along with talent, they poses the potential to be in the forefront of the melodic death metal scene.



--IcedMojo 8.28.06