From the band's site: UNÉN is a band from Helsinki, Finland that plays modern melodic metal. The band's music also incorporates elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound. UNÉN was founded in late 2021, laying the foundation for the band's musical style. What this doesn't mention is that this is Female fronted metal from start to finish, which means that not only are the vocals mainly female, the music is arranged and constructed in such a way as to accommodate singer Stina Girs as much as possible. Now, some four years after having started making music the band Is ready to face the world with their debut album "Forever Winter". It provides us with 52:48 minutes of Modern Metal music with a massive Melodic underground.

Musically the band know where they need to get their ideas from, and they are widely spread. Due to the musical genre UNÉN is using, there are the usual suspects, which I will not mention. The reason for that being is that I feel that you need to listen to the twelve songs on "Forever Winter" in their own merit, experience and judge them as their own entities instead of comparing them to any name I might have mentioned. What you will find is that UNÉN is very much a product of the twenties of this century. The music is well thought out, has really strong structures and very healthy and sturdy bones. The variety between the songs is such that you will recognise everything as being by UNÉN, but with atmospheric foundations that differ from light and airy up and until heavy and imposing.

What does sadden me is that although I like what I'm hearing, I also have to admit to myself that I already know what's coming. Every song on "Forever Winter" has that predictability built in, which prevents me from being surprised or allowing me to grow real admiration. This is only enhanced because the vocals also run along very well known and often trodden paths. Plus I feel that although Stina Girs has an angelic voice, she never uses it to step out of her comfort zone. If you ask me, it's all a bit too safe, too neat. That goes for the music as well. If UNÉN can find it within themselves to pull out all the stops from time to time, they could be great. On "Forever Winter" they haven't done that, alas.