{"id":408798,"date":"2026-01-14T14:17:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T14:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/408798\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T14:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T14:17:09","slug":"unexpectance-solus-ipse-angry-metal-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/408798\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpectance – Solus Ipse | Angry Metal Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Spanish metalcore\/melodeath quintet Unexpectance lived up to their name when I encountered them for the first time in 2022, boasting a remarkably meaty and riff-packed assault on their sophomore effort Vortex<\/a>. After recruiting a new drummer, a new vocalist, and a new lead guitarist, their upcoming salvo Solus Ipse threatens to sound quite a bit different, despite tapping similar Dante-centric philosophical wells for its theme. This potential shift didn\u2019t hamper my interest, however, as their chunky, groovy songwriting held up quite well over time. Considering Unexpectance\u2019s rhythm guitarist and bassist both carry over from the last lineup, I have no reason to believe that solid backbone incurred any serious injury.<\/p>\n

The same can\u2019t be said for my backbone, after spending some quality time with Solus Ipse. These Spaniards still understand what it means to groove, and groove hard. While Solus Ipse certainly leans heavier into the metalcore side of Unexpectance\u2019s sound, perhaps to its detriment especially in regards to the new higher register screams, Unexpectance still know their way around hooks, riffs, and momentum. Reeking of Orbit Culture<\/a> restlessness, Aeternam<\/a>-esque melodicism and verve, and embellished by ominous trem-picked leads\u2014some of which, oddly enough, resemble those singled out refrains which made Unfathomable Ruination\u2019s Finitude<\/a> so compelling (\u201cHybris\u201d)\u2014Solus Ipse\u2019s sycopated patterns and chunky stop-starts play companion to blistering barrages of double-bass-backed ballistics. Sealing the deal, and representing my favorite aspect of Unexpectance\u2019s sound, the entire record is presented in Spanish, with nary a syllable of English to mar the experience. I may not understand what I\u2019m hearing nearly as well (yet), but the effectiveness of Spanish\u2019s cadence and character in this context is undeniable.<\/p>\n

I also can\u2019t deny Unexpectance\u2019s ability to craft dynamic, crunchy, and satisfying tunes when all the pieces fall into place. Especially in the back half, Solus Ipse is a clinic in effervescent energy, crushing riffs, and rabid pacing (\u201cNetamorpha,\u201d \u201cEthos,\u201d \u201cSamsara,\u201d and \u201cHybris\u201d). In fact, I\u2019d say these three attributes are Solus Ipse\u2019s core strengths, as early highlights \u201cMomji,\u201d \u201cAtaraxia,\u201d and \u201cGnosis\u201d successfully conjure the same neck-snapping momentum. Those early cuts communicate that momentum through more overt metalcore language, whereas the back end swings the pendulum a little closer to boisterous melodic death metal (\u201cEmp\u00edreo\u201d). Through it all, Unexpectance\u2019s lead guitar steals the show, brilliantly weaving melodies in and out of bulky riffs and chuggy breakdowns as if they weren\u2019t obstacles to evade, but rather partners to unite in a destructive dance (\u201cMomji,\u201d \u201cGnosis,\u201d \u201cEthos,\u201d \u201cHybris\u201d).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Unexpectance\u2019s ability to walk a tightrope between similar, but distinct, styles showcases their maturity and versatility as writers, but Solus Ipse as a whole isn\u2019t as strong as previous efforts. The primary aspect that gets in my way of enjoying this entertaining back and forth more are, unfortunately, the vocals. I miss the greater dominance of deeper growls and mid-pitch roars that pervaded Vortex. While they feature here frequently, those higher-pitched screams\u2014while admirably performed and brimming with piss and vinegar\u2014feel not just more prevalent, but also much more monotonous, and thereby create a fair amount of drag. In other areas, Solus Ipse is a touch more repetitive and less cohesive, rhythmically speaking, compared to the never-ending cavalcade of twists and tempos that Vortex effortlessly wrangled. Most easily heard in opening duo, \u201cSophrosyne\u201d and \u201cMomji,\u201d this kind of weak point forces the impression that I must choose between options to either keep or discard on future spins. I would much rather feel compelled to adopt every track.<\/p>\n

Following up a contender like Vortex always posed a daunting proposition. Considering the various lineup changes and the 4-year gap between releases, what Solus Ipse accomplishes is admirable. Unexpectance remains an act to watch, as they routinely offer songwriting that either moves the needle for the style or holds great potential to do so with a little more massaging. A ton of great ideas populate Solus Ipse, but the overall product lacks the same consistent hype-worthy quality of the previous installment. Still, it\u2019s worth checking out at least once, even if you aren\u2019t necessarily a fan of the style.<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

Rating: Mixed
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: PCM
Label: Self Released
Websites: unexpectance.bandcamp.com<\/a> | facebook.com\/unexpectance<\/a>
Releases Worldwide: January 15th, 2026<\/p>\n

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