Review by Greg Maki
Tetrarch, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, now based in Los Angeles, has been called “the new hope for metal and hard rock music.” That’s a lot to put on any band, never mind one that, prior to this year, had just a single self-released full-length to its credit (“Freak,” 2017). But with “Unstable,” a sophomore effort brought to us by Napalm Records that’s insanely catchy and thunderously heavy, this quartet sees that hype and storms past it with a powerful musical statement.
Listening to the 10 tracks that comprise “Unstable,” you can hear the influence of any number of late-‘90s/early-2000s nu metal acts, and occasionally a bit of 2000s metalcore, yet the sound is very much of the moment in 2021—largely due to the spine-tingling leads of the band’s trailblazing shredder-in-chief Diamond Rowe and the impassioned, dynamic vocal delivery of Josh Fore. Let’s also give credit to the rhythm section of bassist Ryan Lerner and drummer Ruben Limas, which lays down the pounding grooves that serve as the foundation for Rowe, whose eerie work is often subtle but always intriguing and impressive.
The album already boasts hit singles in “I’m Not Right” and “You Never Listen,” with the slamming “Negative Noise” hot on their heels. But in truth, any song here has the potential to garner major airplay—the anti-bullying anthem “Sick of You,” the Disturbed-inflected “Addicted” and the atmospheric album closer “Trust Me” foremost among them. From start to finish, this is a superb modern metal/hard rock record, signaling the arrival of a major new force—and, yes, new hope—in the genre.
Rating: 9/10
Napalm Records – April 30, 2021
LINKS:
Buy “Unstable”
www.tetrarchmusic.com
www.facebook.com/tetrarchmusic
www.twitter.com/tetrarch
www.instagram.com/tetrarchmusic
label.napalmrecords.com/tetrarch