voila_la_scorie "Unleash the Beast" is the second EP released by melodic death metal band LUTHARO. The band has no full-length albums to date but did release their third EP earlier in 2020.

The track list includes a brief intro and four songs between 5:31 and 7:08. The band's style is actually more of a melodic death metal blended with intense moments of thrash, with vocalist Krista Shipperbottom pulling off some soaring high notes as well as plenty of ferocious death bellows. She also has the ability to slip in some more standard metal vocals, going high but raspy.

"Unleash the Beast" delivers more or less straightforward melodic death metal crossed with thrashy moments and perhaps hints of power metal. Their web site claims they have a little something for everybody. The riffs go from simple chugging to more involved finger-work and speedy tremolo picking. The speed stays pretty much middle of the metal road, though easily lurching into fifth gear when appropriate and never dragging its ass either. There’s never a dull moment to be sure. The musicians all deliver as well as one would expect from this kind of band with tight guitar interplay and some tasteful solos plus some abrupt switches of tempo from the drum kit. Strangely, I have to say that after a few listens the songs have yet to fully grasp my affections (i.e. am I writing this review too prematurely?).

Perhaps it's because melo death is not my first choice for metal pleasures or perhaps it's because I recently and coincidentally picked up a few bands playing a similar style and so, aside from the fact that it's a woman singing in this band, I'm not hearing something groundbreaking. I just find the music here - while satisfying on a technical level - doesn't quite have me gripping any seats or grasping the safety bar with white knuckles. The band is firing away, all systems go, but my response always seems to be more analytical than emotional. My apologies to the band!

Certainly not a disappointment, however. Ms. Shipperbottom's voice is sometimes the highlight of a song. An unexpected death roar or ear-piercing wail makes me utter, "Ah, you got me!" The music is really good, but I feel it's rather “to be expected” for the genre. It’s worthy to mention that the one review on Metal Archives praises this album outright, the rating an impressive 89%. Other reviews give sufficient hype to this EP and the band as well.

If melodic death metal crossed with thrash is something that excites you and you can't get enough, you should consider checking out LUTHARO. As for me, I have no regrets purchasing this EP on disc but I feel it's more of an album from which I can pull off tracks for a mixed playlist rather than an album I deeply desire to listen to often. Or maybe I just haven't really heard this album right yet?

Songs to check out would be "Black Scorpion" and "Temple of the Damned". In the meantime, I'm going to see how their latest EP sounds. The reviews I’ve read claim the band has become even better!