Released 33 years ago this October
Across the Open Sea
Unleashed · 1993
37 min · 11 tracks · death metal
A relentless barrage of thunderous riffs and guttural vocals that evoke the raw power and mystique of Norse mythology.
Top tracks — play these first
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To Asgaard We Fly — The opening track sets an epic tone with its soaring melodies intertwined with aggressive rhythms, perfectly encapsulating the band's thematic focus on Norse mythology.
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I Am God — This track showcases Unleashed's ability to blend aggression with lyrical narrative, delivering a powerful statement on divinity with relentless instrumentation.
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Across the Open Sea — The title track features an anthemic quality, drawing listeners into its vivid imagery of Viking voyages while maintaining a heavy, driving sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and production typical of early '90s death metal but lacks standout tracks.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that features blast beats and heavy guitar riffs, setting a relentless tone for the first half.
- Several tracks incorporate tempo changes, alternating between aggressive sections and slower, more melodic passages.
- The vocals are predominantly guttural and layered, often harmonizing with the guitar lines to create a dense sound.
- The last two tracks slow down significantly, creating a contrasting dynamic before concluding the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo progression
- epic themes of adventure
- immersive journey through sound
- headphone detail exploration
- cathartic release of energy
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, standalone tracks
- seeking light-hearted vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Across the Open Sea was Unleashed's third studio album, following their breakthrough record, Shadows in the Deep. By 1993, the band had solidified their presence in the Swedish death metal scene, honing a sound that combined ferocity with thematic depth focused on Norse mythology.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dismember· Entombed· Bolt Thrower
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 To Asgaard We Fly 3:54
- 2 Open Wide 3:11
- 3 I Am God 4:32
- 4 The One Insane 3:02
- 5 Across the Open Sea 2:45
- 6 In the Northern Lands 3:53
- 7 Forever Goodbye (2045) 2:27
- 8 Execute Them All 3:19
- 9 Captured 3:47
- 10 Breaking the Law 2:13
- 11 The General 4:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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