### The Haunted: Eye of the storm

#### 18/01/14 || Ironpants

“The Hyped?”

They are back! The Haunted have had their share of shit and people thought they where supposed to go into the eternal sleep after the events last year with people leaving the ship like it was infested with the Bubonic Plague. The remaining crew of the boat, Jensen & Björler, held on to their responsibilities though, rallied their forces, repaired the ship and re-recruited old members Adrian Erlandsson and Marco Aro. And on top of that sunk their fangs into one of the hottest upcoming string-benders around in Ola Englund.

A 3 song digital release (and on limited vinyl) was quickly put together just to show the masses that they are not retired. Don’t raise your penises too high just yet though people, there isn’t really groundbreaking stuff that falls out of the haunted mansion here. Yeah, sure, it is quality stuff created by the sheer epicness and routine in this ensemble, but there is something missing. They haven’t really found their form I’m afraid, and they present three (two and a half) rather good songs, but that’s it.

“Eye of the storm” is a half-paced standard thrash song with a pretty good chorus but kinda scattered and not that memorable. “Infiltrator” is a fast, aggressive tune that is a slightly more energetic piece than the opener, but still standard stuff. “My enemy” is a mere 58 seconds of pure aggressiveness, which sends promises that there is something going on after all in the camp of he The Haunted and that’s why I wrote “two and a half” above. 58 seconds of greatness isn’t that much too brag about… as Mrs. Ironpants would say. They have to pull their shit together for the full album.

The production is great of course. The musicianship is professional (I especially like Björler’s pretty noticeable bass) and Aro’s singing is there (but slightly distorted like it’s sung through a filter of some kind). Nothing’s wrong with Adrian’s drums, but it is standard stuff. And the guitars are good – but that’s it. Come on guys! You have the experience and and status too just get in there and rape that studio for your full album and come up with some shit that could start a war. Get to work!

We count on you!

- Information
- Released: 2014
- Label: Century Media Records
- Website: www.the-haunted.com
- Band
- Marco Aro: vocals
- Patrik Jensen: guitars
- Ola Englund: guitars
- Jonas Björler: bass
- Adrian Erlandsson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Eye of the storm
- 02. Infiltrator
- 03. My enemy