Chosen Undead is a metal band with a focus on creating sounds that are modern yet extremely versatile, often tipping the hat to a wide variety of heavy influences. From classic metal to metalcore and even elements of contemporary alternative, anything goes.
The five-piece band hails Hainburg, a quiet town near Frankfurt. Formed in 2024, the group blends the fast, heavy riffs of early metalcore with fresh, modern sounds that really bring something fresh to the mix. Each musician in the band is fond of a different heavy style, so they love to incorporate anything from melodic death, thrash, hard rock, to pure metalcore in their songs.
Recently, the band dropped one of their edgiest singles to date, which actually serves as a stunning example of their ability to combine different styles. "Karmic Justice" is the title of this song, and the track takes no prisoners! It opens with a powerful drum swoosh that leads straight into a heavy yet dynamic and balanced guitar riff. This riff serves as the backbone of the song, making it immediately recognizable and distinctive from the get-go. It gives the track its iconic quality right off the bat.
The vocals come in around 11 seconds after the intro riff. The aggressive delivery matches the intensity of the guitar, and the song is beefy and extremely powerful. The drums and bass act as a solid and relentless rhythm section, while the guitars provide a huge wall of sound that makes the track stand out in terms of sheer force. The vocals are strong enough to match all of that, and then some. They soar easily above the mix and provide guidance and definition, highlighting the dynamic changes in the arrangement and adding even more personality to the song.
There is also room for some melodic vocal parts, which bring a nice contrast to the arrangement and, in some ways, are reminiscent of early 2000s emocore. If you enjoy bands such as Hatebreed, Bullet For My Valentine, or Killswitch Engage, you'll definitely connect with the vibes of this one. However, this is not just a nostalgia trigger. The song still feels very contemporary, especially when it comes to the production, which is massive in every way. From the kick drum and the snare down to the balance in the guitars, everything hits just right.
There’s an amazing instrumental breakdown in the middle of the song, featuring a stellar guitar solo that showcases both technical skill and artistic prowess. Ultimately, this song stands out not just because it's heavy and powerful, but because the band provides dynamics and nuance. The arrangement is personal and diverse, shifting from expected heavy sections to more melodic parts and even technical flair in the bridge.
There’s just enough variety to make the track far more engaging than the average metalcore song that rides the same vibe from start to finish. The band has successfully captured its kaleidoscopic range of influences and infused it into their unique formula.
One of the pitfalls of modern metal music, in my opinion, is that it tends to be extremely clean in terms of production. Everything is super quantized, grid perfect, and the sounds can be a little manufactured. However, this is definitely not the case here. Chosen Undead managed to capture a sound that feels definitely more like musicians playing. Don't get me wrong, it is still a very punchy, crisp, and polished record, but polished doesn't have to mean aseptic or lifeless. In this case, Karmic Justice is an example of how to properly create a modern sounding piece of heavy music without overly relying on the producer's toolkit. It's really all about great songwriting and arrangement. The mix really works in context and it helps the song stand out, making Chosen Undead a perfect combination of early 2000s aesthetics and contemporary clarity when it comes to the actual sound of this release.
Find out more about Chosen Undead, and do not miss out on this release, which is currently available on the best streaming platforms.
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