Grim Tales is One Man Army & The Undead Quartet 3rd album, it was released 2008 and in 2009 they had a line-up change on lead guitar, perhaps that's why it took the Swedish a bit longer to present The Dark Epic. I'm a bit confused, coz on the band's webspaces Jonas Blom is named while the label's biography names Mikael Lagerblad... Anyway, let's talk about the music!
They open up with Stitch, and with fast guitar riffs, then they storm off into a wild thrasher with deathly growls. At songs like The Zombie Syndrome (Of Acid & Man) and Inside The Head Of God they offer mid-paced passages which features the guitar play of Mattias Bolander and Jonas Blom. With more then 7 minutes Sandman Apocalypse is an epic tune, slowly guitarists lead into the thrasher which also offers a long instrumental passage. And it's the mix of fast thrash parts and mid-tempo passages in combination with the aggressive growls make The Dark Epic an strong album. Skeletons Of Rose Hall is a good choice to get an idea of their nowadays sound. Perhaps that's why they choose it for a video...
After the thrash tune Devil's Harlot they present Dark Epic, another riff-based long track. As the track is almost 9 minutes long they have time to build it up. And again it's the guitar play which makes this one special. After more then 5 minutes Johan Lindstrand finally joins in, but he still gives the guitars the space and only joins in for a moment. And like they opened up they end this tune.
Then they storm off again for How I Love To Kill You, the closer. With this fast one they return to their uncompromising thrash'n'death sound.
The strong point of One Man Army & The Undead Quartet is the guitar play and their diversified sound. Well done.
