Unwelcome
Arsis · 2013
61 min · 17 tracks · melodic death metal
A relentless barrage of melodic riffs and guttural vocals that intertwine despair with aggression throughout the album's runtime.
Top tracks — play these first
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Unwelcome — The title track kicks off the album with an intense blend of melody and aggression, establishing the thematic core of isolation and despair.
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Carve My Cross — This track showcases Arsis's signature guitar work and intricate melodies, capturing their ability to balance heaviness with haunting beauty.
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Sunglasses at Night — A unique cover that reinterprets the original's new wave vibe through a metal lens, demonstrating Arsis's versatility and creative approach to songwriting.
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Scornstar — With its driving rhythms and aggressive lyrics, this song exemplifies the album's darker themes while featuring standout vocal performances.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines technical skill with emotional contrasts but lacks strong cohesion in its extensive tracklist.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that sets a fast-paced tempo, followed by several tracks that maintain a high level of intensity with intricate guitar work.
- Vocal styles shift between guttural growls and melodic singing, often within the same song, creating a dynamic contrast.
- Several tracks feature extended instrumental sections that showcase technical proficiency, including rapid guitar solos and complex drumming patterns.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, providing a contrasting emotional weight to the preceding aggression.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- relentless energy and aggression
- cathartic release of tension
- short tracks with punchy intensity
- dynamic shifts in emotional weight
- headphone detail hunting for layers
Maybe skip if you
- prefer softer, melodic sounds
- want lengthy, atmospheric pieces
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2013, 'Unwelcome' is Arsis's fifth studio album, following their 2010 release, 'Starve for the Devil'. This period marked a pivotal moment in their career as they sought to solidify their signature blend of melodic death metal while navigating lineup changes and evolving musical influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dark Tranquillity· In Flames· Soilwork
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Let Me Be the One
The singer confronts their inner demons directly reveals a stark vulnerability amidst a backdrop of heavy instrumentation.
This choice to expose personal struggles contrasts sharply with the album's overall aggression, creating an intimate moment in an otherwise ferocious landscape.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Unwelcome 3:41
- 2 Carve My Cross 4:13
- 3 Handbook for the Recently Deceased 3:48
- 4 Choking on Sand 3:18
- 5 Let Me Be the One 3:10
- 6 Sunglasses at Night 3:58
- 7 Martyred or Mourning 4:09
- 8 No One Lies to the Dead 3:04
- 9 I Share in Shame 3:35
- 10 Scornstar 3:38
- 11 The Face of My Innocence 5:41
- 12 Haunted, Fragile and Frozen 1:53
- 13 Six Coffins Wide 4:12
- 14 Veil of Mourning Black 3:01
- 15 A Tearful Haunt, Condemned 3:31
- 16 Carve My Cross 4:05
- 17 Denied 2:26
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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