Unit 53 - Prophecies
  Genre: Power Metal
  Release Date: 2006
  Label: Unsigned
  Band Web Site: http://www.unit53band.com

Formed in October 2001 by vocalist Carlton Kelly, guitarist Steve Lewis, bassist Rodney “Choade” Pitts and drummer Trae Bullock, Unit 53 was unleashed upon the Richmond, VA music scene in October 2001. They released their first demo Sands Of Time only a short while after. An amazing feat, considering they had only been playing together for 3 weeks! The demo sold over 500 copies in the Richmond area and left their fans hungry for a new release. It looked like the juggernaut would keep rolling as the band entered the studio to record a follow up, but Bullock left in mid-2002 to pursue other endeavors. After almost half a year of exhaustive searching, the band found drummer Rob Stephenson. Re-energized and ready to lay waste to the local scene, the band re-entered the studio and emerged with their debut full-length Power And Presence in 2003. The album sold over 700 copies. Power And Presence also received critical praise in several European metal mags as well as in the local press. To keep their fans happy until the new album was completed, an EP of unreleased material called Past Tense was released in 2004. Now, Unit 53 is ready to destroy all comers with their latest album. Released in early 2006, the album is called Prophecies.

Unit 53’s brand of power metal is very unique. When many people think power metal, they think speedy melodic guitar riffs, lyrics of fantastic beasts and worlds, and operatic vocals. Unit 53 is power metal alright, but with specific emphasis on the word POWER! With vocals that shift from Rob Halford like highs to Phil Anselmo style screams and growls, and guitars that render the human brain to mush with distorted raw riffage, Unit 53 uses sledgehammer power to deliver their message. One listen to Prophecies will leave you bloody and helpless!

The onslaught starts out in bulldozer fashion with “Fourth Righteous”, a pummeling pile driver of mechanized fury! With guitars that sound like rusty steam hammers and drums that pound like the feet of the mighty Godzilla, this track begins the assault and carves out a beach head for the rest of the record. Kelly’s vocals fit the track perfectly with their venomous delivery.

“The World Is Cursed” is the song that really got me into this album. Bass, drums and guitars unite to attack with precision with an awesome mid tempo riff that sounds like the grind of an old Chevy engine. The solo on this song is really cool!

“Wrath (Of The Storm)” kicks with the speed of Helloween and axe-grinding fury of Pantera. This is probably the closest the band gets to traditional power metal on the whole album. The apocalyptic vocal delivery gives you the feeling the storm is coming…Well, because of Unit 53, the storm is already here. So beware! Flee or perish, non-believers!

A concrete slab of stop/start riffs punctuate the pummeling of “March Of Wings”, while Kelly sings in demonic fashion of revenge and resurrection. Another track that may knock you on your ass if you are standing up! Please be mindful of your tailbone and sit in a comfortable chair while listening to this one, or if you must stand, tie a pillow to your ass! You’ll be sorry if you don’t! Gut crushingly heavy!

“Rise Above” takes things down a notch. While this is a well written, well played, and well sung ballad, it does not stand up to the brutality of the rest of the record. It is a good song on it’s own, but the rest of the album kicks the shit out of it. Probably the only track on the record you might want to skip.

Another speedy wrecking ball comes to knock down your senses in the form of “Conflict Within”. Kelly shows off some really cool high screams as he begs for help from his inner demons. The toughest battles we have to fight are sometimes inside of ourselves, and this track paints the not-so-beautiful picture. The sandpaper grit of the guitars and those fat bass licks join with the drums to release a hyperkinetic blur that will destroy anything standing in it’s path. A tornado of metal!

Get ready for some major distortion! The brick wall heavy sludge n’ muck riff twists and turns like your worst nightmare on “Ravenscar” a somber story of a family member’s losing battle with drug abuse. Kelly spits out pain and anger laced vocals full of emotion and ferocity. This song may take a few listens to grow on you, but please boys and girls, while you are head banging your skull into pieces, make sure you take heed of the message and NEVER, EVER DO DRUGS. Do not meet the fate that the person described in the song does. There is too much metal to enjoy, and life to live.

Two tracks in one! That’s what you get with “Sacrifice/Killswitch”. Starting off with a slow, electric tinged acoustic feel, the track picks up intensity with more sledgehammer riffs and even more cobra style venom in the vocal delivery. A riff doesn’t have to be fast to be powerful!

A hat tip to Queensryche ends the album with an ode to the Seattle metal machine. The classic Ryche favorite ‘Queen Of The Reich” is presented Unit 53 style as Kelly lets his high screams run riot over the gritty riffing. A very well done interpretation of a classic metal tune.

One has to be impressed with the tightness of the Unit 53 musical engine. Kelly shows versatility with his high screams and his angry spewing of raw anger with his yells and growls. Reminds me of Phil Anselmo, only better! Steve Lewis delivers slab upon slab of detuned fury on the guitar as he takes speed and sludge and unites them with devastating results. Bass player Pitts will make you queasy with the rumble of his earthshaking bass licks. Drummer Stephenson shows off old school kit thrashing and the blast beats of modern power metal with equal skill.

With Prophecies, Unit 53 has created their own unique style of power metal which has the potential to win over fans of Euro power bands like Helloween and modern American hardcore thrash bands like Pantera or Shadows Fall. They have great potential for leading the charge of a new era in power metal where new rules will be written and new territory explored. No other power metal band sounds like Unit 53.

After hearing this record, you will want to do one of three things:

1) Go to the emergency room, and ask the nurse to bring you a laptop so you can order Prophecies.

2) Summon all the strength in your mangled body to go to the computer and order Prophecies, and then go to the emergency room.

3) Run home to mommy because it’s too much metal for you! She’s got some Barry Manilow for you that might be more your speed.

We suggest you choose 1 or 2, because Barry Manilow sucks and Unit 53 rocks!

Review written by: Matt B.         
Date: May 29, 2006             
Rating: 4 stars out of 5