After reviewing the last album "...And Everything In Between" just over a year and a half ago, and rating it with nine out of ten, I was eagerly awaiting what Metalcore masters UNPROCESSED would come up with their latest effort. The result is called "Angel" and the first thing to mention is that it does a lot of things, but disappoint is not among them. I was amazed that it got classed as a Progressive Metal album, but seeing as how the band is able to mix the two musical genres with such ease, I shouldn't have been. As for the progression achieved; whereas "...And Everything In Between" was like a full on press of aggression and power, the band have found that they didn't want to repeat that effort. Nope, this time the band wanted to make sure things were more balanced between Heavy and Easy, Loud and Soft, Intense and Relaxed. Although, if you listen to "Sleeping With Ghosts" after the very short intro "111", you might beg to differ. The amazing amount of energy and cropped up frustration that this one is bleeding onto us as listeners is like a tsunami coming to you out of the blue.

UNPROCESSED then gets into the mode where they want to be, and somehow know how to mix all their emotions in the right way whilst adding the properly chosen sounds, noises and rhythms, all in the proper amount too. A song like "Beyond Heaven's Gate" might start out easy, but soon turns out into an avalanche, whilst "Sacrifice Me" will have you feeling melancholy. Yes, even though the heaviness is still there. What UNPROCESSED have learned and utilised since their last album is that the interactions between all the instruments is much more balanced. Yes, the bass guitar is still the main instrument, but the drums as well as the guitars, vocals and keyboards have quite significant roles to play. And that does work out just right for "Angel" as an album, which a song like "Terrestrial" does demonstrate. Then you have a song like "Your Dress", which is classic UNPROCESSED mixed with NINE INCH NAILS brilliance. I can mention every song on the album, and they all have that extra that you are looking for when listening.

UNPROCESSED contains four world class musicians that have the ability to make music that is above reproach, that could be named world class. No, I have to say it should be classified as such, as that is exactly what my feelings on "Angel" are. I genuinely thought they wouldn't be able to better "...And Everything In Between", but they have. UNPROCESSED have produced my album of the year with "Angel". I dare anyone to make me listen to anything more impressive than this.