Album Of The Year 2025

• Country: Sweden
• Style: Melodic death metal
• Label: Nuclear Blast
• Release date: 10 January 2025

The Halo Effect started as a reunion of old friends and has quietly become one of the most dependable names in melodic death metal. The line-up still reads like a page from Gothenburg’s history: Mikael Stanne on vocals, Jesper Strömblad and Niclas Engelin on guitars, Peter Iwers on bass and Daniel Svensson on drums. March of the Unheard is their second album, following Days of the Lost from 2022.

Where the debut sometimes sounded like a band proving it could still do this, the follow-up sounds settled. The twin-guitar harmonies that defined the Gothenburg sound are everywhere, the songs are tighter, and Stanne moves between growl and clean voice with the ease of a man who has been doing it for three decades. “Conspire to Deceive” opens with real purpose, and the title track has a chorus built for festival fields.

Nothing here is revolutionary, and nobody asked for a revolution. As a statement of craft from people who helped shape the genre, it hits the mark.

Best tracks:

Conspire to Deceive
Detonate
March of the Unheard

Author’s rating: 8/10