Unshine
Earth Magick
5.8
The world needs another female-fronted gothic/melodic metal band like it needs another American metalcore band playing revolutionary At the Gates riffs. But here we are. Unshine are from Finland, and on that note they do bear a passing resemblance to their countrymates in Nightwish, but without all the pomp that Tarja and Co. capitalize on. In fact, they’re a bit dull overall, and I can usually stomach this stuff pretty well.
Part of the problem lies with the very stale production. Nothing is very loud or bright, and the guitars sound neutered. And why they need two guitarists is a mystery to me, as half the time, Susanna sings over the drums and bass, and the riffs that do exist are more atmospheric than anything. She has a pleasant singing voice, but they usually do in this genre and she’s not distinctive to the point where you would know right away if she were guesting on another band’s song. I’m not sure which member plays the keyboards, but they add atmosphere and contribute bouncy lines in that typical Finnish way, like Shade Empire, for one.
“Not For Me” is a midtempo song with promise, catching my attention with the hum-worthy main riff. “Snow White” shows more life with the keyboards in greater force, life that is not shown in songs like “The Last Moment”. “For the Huntress and the Moon” has a nice dark metal feel, although the chorus gets too poppy for my liking. For the most part, Unshine is an unassuming and inoffensive band…in other words, they don’t leave an impression. Earth Magick does not suck, but I can’t recommend it to any but the rabid female goth rock/metal fans. If this describes you, great, and if not, this album certainly won’t turn you onto the style. Proceed with caution.
