Up next on the chopping block are three bands you probably never had heard of but are badass. The bands who I am talking about are the bands Face Down, The Resistance, and LIK. Why am I doing three bands in one review? Well because collectively they only have 7 albums however, the one thing two of them have in common is the fact that Marco Aro from The Haunted sang in both bands. It should also be noted that The Resistance also features Jesper Strömblad and Glen Ljungström from In Flames on guitars. The third band LIK has members of Witchery, Katatonia, and Diatonic. So up first is Face Down…..
Mindfield- so if you are a fan of Machinehead’s first two albums then you’ll definitely like this album. Now if you are like me and are a fan of Marco’s work with The Haunted, you’ll appreciate this album however if you’re looking for a Made Me Do It or One Kill Wonder Part 2, then look elsewhere. On this record, Marco actually uses clean vocals which is something that was unexpected. This is by no means a second Haunted band and sounds very different from them however it’s still just as heavy. Anyway, if you can find this album, definitely give it a try (I had to look it up on YouTube). Definitely a 9.5/10
Standouts: Holy Rage, Demon Seed, Colors
The Twisted Rule The Wicked- again, if you’re looking for a Haunted rip-off, this isn’t that band. They are less of The Haunted and more Machinehead (think Burn My Eyes/The More Things Change era). This is not Mindfield part 2 but is definitely a good follow up record. Again, Marco uses clean vocals except they are a little harsher this time around and the band is also slightly heavier too. Much like the first one, I had to go on YouTube to actually listen to this album. Anyway, if you have the time, look this one up. I give it 9.5/10
Standouts: Dead Breed, Waste, Top of the World
The Will To Power- let’s get one thing right, out of the two vocalists that The Haunted have had, Marco was definitely the better one. This album is what should have come after One Kill Wonder. Here, he is uses almost all harsh vocals and this could easily fit into The Haunted catalogue. Definitely the heavier of the three albums but really not by much and no I didn’t have to YouTube this album which was nice. I give it 10/10
Standouts: Drained, Insanity, Heretic
This is definitely one of those hidden gem bands and it’s too bad that they are not more well known because their records are so good. If you can check them out because you won’t be sorry you did. On to part 2……
The Resistance
Scars- if you’re looking for a band that is a hardcore mixed with death metal with an old school sound, then you’ll dig this album. Now seeing as how there are members from The Haunted and In Flames in here, there are hints of both those bands on here but ultimately this is its own thing. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: Your Demise, Eye For An Eye, Clearing the Slate
Coup De Grâce- I’d say that this one is more of the same only with better production. It does however have less of that melodic ness and more of that straightforward old school Swedish death metal sound on it. I mean from start to finish it’s just awesome. It’s got that brutality from Marco and the guitars on it are awesome with sounds reminiscent of bands like Entombed. It’s a perfect modern day buzz saw guitar sounding album and I give it 10/10
Standouts: World Order, Violator, Enslavement
So that’s pretty much it for albums with Marco Aro on vocals. It’s really too bad that these guys couldn’t keep making more albums because I would’ve loved to hear more from them or at the very least seen these guys open for someone. Again check these albums out because they are vastly underrated. So next up is the band LIK……..
Mass Funeral Evocation- if you are a fan of that old school Swedish death metal sound, you are for sure going to love this. Yes the album came out in 2017 but it sounds like as if it came out in 1993. It’s got that raw old production sound going for it and it’s great. I give this album 9/10
Standouts: Serum 141, Endless Oceans Of Blood, Death Orgasmic
Carnage- if I remember correctly, I bought this album because I had heard the opening track To Kill through an internet ad on either Facebook or Instagram I can’t remember which. And I think this was actually one of the last cds I ever purchased since my car now won’t play cds :(. I would say that if you are a big fan of the first Entombed albums then you’ll definitely love this album and in fact, it picks up right where those albums left off in terms of sound. I actually didn’t think there were bands like this that still played that old Swedish death metal sound with the buzz saw guitar attacks. I give this album 10/10
If you are a fan of Swedish metal particularly The Haunted, In Flames, and Entombed then definitely check out all these bands because you will be so happy you did. Now a few of these albums are not on Spotify but the ones that are, definitely check out. I think I’m going to not rank these albums because well I wouldn’t really know how to. I’d say just check them all out.
Sinister Reviews 