TAD MOROSE “Undead” /CD/

The tenth full-length studio album by cult Swedish Progressive Power/Heavy Metal band.
Tad Morose is now a full four albums into their ‘comeback’ after a ten-year break between their sixth and seventh albums, and the (mostly) stable line-up is very productive with four albums in ten years.
Albeit with a small nod to the sound of 80s and 90s without sounding less fresh and modern, the band has delivered another solid Metal album. Good solos, good vocals, good production values and enough little extras, such as the occasional acoustic guitar segment, all combine with great songs to make this stellar piece in the band’s long and impressive career.
Tad Morose has been chugging along for years now, releasing mostly solid albums – even if they never seemed to get back to the level of their trinity of albums in the late 90s and early ‘00s. This is probably the strongest of the new albums so far, mostly just coming down to the pared-down runtime. These are short songs that get to the point, and the band has written a bunch of their best tunes in years here.
They haven’t changed all that much since "Modus Vivendi" and these songs are all pretty bare bones, with a general tight, clinical riffing sense, dark, obscure atmosphere and choruses that come at you like spirits rising up from a fucking grave with a vengeance. The difference here is in the quality – while the opening title track sounds like every other song the band ever wrote, after that they do kick into a run of pretty stellar tunes. Check the nifty melodies of “Witches Dance”, the kinetic “Phantasm”, the epic “Dying” and the massive chorus of “Escape” – these are among their coolest tunes in years, and unlike the other recent albums there’s no real filler.
The band sounds as pro as you’d expect, with guitarist Christer Andersson, the lone remaining original member, just having a great feel for massive grooves and stomping riff work. It’s all just f***ing solid! If you’re a fan of Tad Morose or of no bullshit Dark Power Metal, "March Of The Obsequious" ought to be a safe bet for a buy!!
GMR Music Group/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 2022 (JRR-BB028). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. March Of The Obsequious 3:46
2. Witches Dance 4:51
3. Pandemonium 3:26
4. Phantasm 3:50
5. Dying 4:31

Side B
1. Escape 3:53
2. A Trail Of Sins 3:49
3. A Quilt Of Shame 3:24
4. Legion 3:57
5. This Perfect Storm 4:17

Total playing time: 39:44 min.

First re-release of the fourth full-length studio album by cult Swedish Progressive Power/Heavy Metal band.
Tad Morose play a Power/Classic Heavy Metal hybrid with slight Progressive tendencies. "Undead" is their first album on the Century Media label. After a long 3-year wait, during which they had to hassle with their old label, Black Mark, they have come out with a very focused and strong album.
Tad Morose have dropped the keyboard player who performed on their past albums and have added a second guitar player, which has made their sound catchier, heavier, and faster. Almost gone is any resemblance to the music from their earlier works. This album can be defined as Power Metal, but Tad Morose is able to sound fresher and better than most bands in this overcrowded genre.
Urban Breed's singing is phenomenal. He has a great range and can do powerful, soaring vocal lines and then sing in a rougher style. His singing reminds of a combination of Zak Stevens (ex- Savatage) and Johnny Lindkvist (Nocturnal Rites). The driving guitar lines by Christer Andersson and Daniel Olsson are crunchy and melodic, and they really do an excellent job. The majority of their solos are not particularly flashy or ultra-fast. Instead, they show a lot of melody and harmony, they are to the point, and as a result, the song as a whole is the focus - not just a speedy solo. The drumming by Peter Morén is tight and powerful, and finally, Anders Modd glues the entire music together with his great bass playing.
"Undead" is a beast of mythical proportions, vicious riffs, fast solos, and an overall atmosphere of dread, doubt and pain. The music soars, the guitar work has a good amount of distortion and sounds influenced by 1980s American Metal. The singer has an exceptionally beautiful voice. It is at turns uplifting, frightening and rough.
Tad Morose has definitely set itself apart from the other Power Metal bands out there, many of which have become very boring and repetitive. This is one of those bands whose sound is very, very hard to accurately describe. They're just good, and their groovy riffs and haunting vocal melodies will keep you coming back for more. Let's hope this well-kept secret from Sweden will gather a strong fan base. After this formidable effort, they deserve it!
Limited to 100 copies Grey Vinyl includes 4-page insert.
Century Media/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 1985/2022 (JRR-BB029). Made in Italy. Pressed in Czech.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Intro 0:53
2. Servant Of The Bones 4:55
3. Another Time Around 4:07
4. Where The Sun Never Shines 4:02
5. Order Of The Seven Poles 4:46
6. Undead 3:40

Side B
7. No Tears In The Rain 4:29
8. Intro / Lord On High 5:51
9. Corporate Masters 3:20
10. No Wings To Burn 3:48
11. The Dead And His Son 5:40

Total playing time: 45:32 min.