Unleashed | Fire Upon Your Lands | Napalm Records

Release Date: August 15, 2025

Format: Album

Genre: Death Metal

Country: Sweden

Unleashed stands among the long running forces of Swedish death metal, formed in 1989 by Johnny Hedlund. Their path has been steady through the decades, always rooted in war charged narratives and the world of Odalheim. With “Fire Upon Your Lands”, the band arrive at their fifteenth album, a point that many groups never reach, and they enter it with the same warrior spirit that shaped their legacy.

The new album carries the story forward from “No Sign Of Life”. The approach is immediate, powerful and forged in the strong identity that Hedlund has been cultivating for more than three decades. From the opening track onward, the band push straight into battle. Riffs strike with violent force, the drums march with crushing weight, and Hedlund’s growls once again sound like commands from the battlefield. The energy is constant, driven more by instinct than sophistication, which is exactly where Unleashed thrives. When “A Toast To The Fallen” arrives, the tone shifts into a proud salute to fallen warriors, keeping the intensity high while giving the narrative a moment of reflection shaped through melody and rage.

As the album moves on, “War Comes Again” brings a storm that feels forged in fire. The guitars tear through everything in their path, and the tempo pushes the listener further into the conflict. The title track “Fire Upon Your Lands” answers with a swift and destructive strike. Later, “To My Only Son” changes direction with a darker atmosphere built around sorrow, loyalty and the brutality of war. Hedlund delivers his vocals with raw emotion, giving the story a personal angle. “Hold Your Hammers High!” lifts the spirit of Viking metal anthems through chanted lines and wide open guitar work, almost like a march toward the gates of Midgard.

The production by guitarist  Fredrik Folkare keeps everything impactful, loud and war driven. The guitars roar, the bass rumbles and the drums sound like the pulse of an army preparing for impact. The mix gives every element its own punch and turns the album into a battlefield. By the time “Unknown Flag” closes the campaign, the experience stays powerful and consistent, proving that Unleashed remain a force of pure death metal aggression with stories that belong to their own world. “Fire Upon Your Lands” stands tall as a triumphant chapter in the band’s saga. It shows Unleashed marching forward with strength, fire and unwavering dedication to their craft.

Score: 8.5