I just wonder how it will sound like on stage, when the crowd first tries to synchronize the chants and then get the words right. Three cool words were perhaps not enough for ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET (even if they're referred to most of the time as just ONE MAN ARMY) and the name sure will make the crowd work hard for an encore. "The Dark Epic" is the quartet's fourth release and compared to its predecessors this is a little step away from the original sound. Of course a few will complain about this but for me, with a little less Death Metal and more Thrash in the sound it all fits like a glove.

So yes, the sound on "The Dark Epic" differs from earlier work but the main ingredients are still there. ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET still has the really Heavy, Catchy and Groovy riffs. I guess it's wrong to say that this type of music has hit potential but at least it's very accessible even though it still is very brutal. And then, that Johan Lindstrand is one of Sweden's best screamers/growlers really don't take the grade down. But just as with the music, the vocals isn't as harsh as it used to be. Again, this is absolutely more in my taste than it was before even if I enjoy their previous albums a lot too.

At first though, the first two-three spins of the album I didn't get it at all. It felt a little like a mess of riffs. But then, when everything started falling into place and the songs started to settle in my mind. The geniality appeared. Especially the title track, "The Dark Epic" sticks out. It holds amazing riffs which brought Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) to mind, a wonderful dark and technical and a true Epic. Ok, I do love long, complex and epic songs and this is a masterpiece.
It's fascinating how ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET manages to balance on the ledge right between Death Metal and Thrash, Modern and Old School without one taking over. "Inside The Head Of God" is a perfect example of that. The riff before the chorus is very NU sounding if isolated, together with the rest it gives another dimension to the song. Another smack in the face is "The Devil's Harlot", speedy and groovy and really mean.

There's not much to say about the musicians performances on "The Dark Epic", it's perfect almost. For me this was a step in the right direction for ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, I'm not sure all will agree but no one can say it's a bad album. If you say so, listen to it again and you'll see!