THE HAUNTED
Songs of Last Resort
Century Media
I still remember the first time I heard THE HAUNTED. I was stationed in Germany, barely scraping together enough Deutschmarks to buy records, and there it was, that self-titled debut. It hit like a freight train, no bullshit, no frills, just sheer, unrelenting fury. That was 1999 (I know it came out in '98 but I was slow to the game), and here we are, nearly three decades later, with Songs of Last Resort and let me tell you, this album doesn't walk in the room, it kicks the goddamn door off the hinges. After eight years of silence and a world on fire, THE HAUNTED return not with whispers, but with war cries. The question isn't will it chug, it's whether your spine can handle the weight.
If Songs of Last Resort were a film, it'd be projected in bombed-out cathedrals while the world burns outside. This isn't just thrash, it's a sonic last will and testament to a dying civilization. From the opening artillery burst of "Warhead" to the scorched-earth finale of "Letters of Last Resort", THE HAUNTED don't just revisit their roots, they exhume them, electrify the corpse, and unleash it on a planet begging for its own annihilation. Produced with the clarity of a surgical strike and the fury of an insurgency, every note feels intentional, urgent, and bleakly beautiful. This isn't music for the faint of heart, it's war propaganda from an alternate timeline where the bombs already fell.
What really sets this record apart is its cohesion. You can tell this isn't just five guys mailing in parts. The band is locked in like a seasoned unit on a mission. The guitar tone is dense, but not muddy. The drums snap with authority. Marco's vocals, ranging from throat-scorching screams to guttural war cries, are as sharp and commanding as ever. It's a testament to what happens when a band sticks together and evolves with purpose.
There are moments on Songs of Last Resort where THE HAUNTED sound like they've found the fountain of youth in molten riff form. Tracks like "Warhead" are undeniable highlights of an all-out war anthem that chugs with mechanical precision and bleeds adrenaline. "Unbound" delivers thrash perfection with one of the nastiest, breath-stealing breakdowns of the record. "Death To The Crown" is straight-up pit fuel: it's rebellious, fast, politically charged, and tailor-made for old bones to rediscover the pit. Then you've got "Hell Is Wasted On The Dead", a playground for guitar lovers, and "Through The Fire", which quite frankly should come with a structural damage warning, it's that heavy. These are the tracks that stir that primal metal energy and remind you why this band still matters in a crowded landscape.
There's also a tier of tracks that are damn good, but not quite elite. "In Fire Reborn" gets close with its groove and twin solos but holds a little too steady for its own good. "Collateral Carnage" starts with promise, crushing and catchy, but loses some momentum with a tempo drop that doesn't quite serve the song's message. "Salvation Recalled" brings solid classic HAUNTED energy but takes a few listens to fully sink in, and "Labyrinth of Lies" offers a brooding doom-thrash feel that separates it from the pack in a welcome, almost ballad-like way. These songs form the backbone of the record, the ones that might not leap out at you on the first spin but deepen the more you return to them.
Then there are the tracks that don't quite fire on all cylinders. "To Bleed Out" has a mix of tones from death metal to 80s-style guitar leads but never finds its footing. "Blood Clots", a short instrumental, feels more like filler than a necessary break in the chaos. And while "Letters of Last Resort" is clearly meant to be a cinematic closer, it just doesn't land with the same intensity or memorability as what came before. It's good but not the exclamation mark I was hoping for. Still, even these moments speak to a band willing to take some chances and explore sonic terrain beyond their signature violence.
Final Verdict: Four Battle Jackets Out of Five
Songs of Last Resort is a fierce, focused return that proves THE HAUNTED haven't lost an ounce of their bite. It balances raw aggression with modern precision and, even when it stumbles, never feels aimless. For longtime fans, it's a satisfying revival. For newcomers, it's a compelling introduction. And if they take this momentum on tour, which they absolutely should, these songs are going to level venues. This album feels tailor-made for the stage: raw, powerful, and ready to ignite.
So, does it chug?
Absolutely. Four battle jackets out of five.
Stay Safe, Stay Metal, and always be Kind.
4.0 Battle Jackets Out Of 5.0 Battle Jackets
