“So let me live in the infinite.”
For those who have ever indulged in the splendours of underground British metal, The Uncharted are quite likely a known and appreciated entity. Given their resplendent back catalogue ranging from 2018 debut EP Perspectives to the juggernaut standalone single, “Serenity”, The Uncharted have been one of the scene’s most hotly-anticipated acts both pre- and post-pandemic. After all, it is a colossal feat to so successfully fuse TesseracT-esque soaring vocals with cutting edge, riff-tactic metalcore like The Uncharted have; many have tried and many have failed.
Five years on from the release of Perspectives and almost two years since frontman Arron Luke Carter dropped his gargantuan studio album (Dis)Integration, The Uncharted are now poised to advance to the upper echelons of British metal with their debut full-length record, Deathless.
The sizeable forty-two minute runtime of Deathless commences with “Enmity”, which was initially released in August 2022 following the band’s relaunch after laying dormant over 2021. “Enmity” reintroduces The Uncharted’s sonic signature sublimely; dual-vocalists Peter Lee and Arron Luke Carter contrast between slicing, unrelenting screams and towering tenor cleans respectively, whilst ethereal synths and keys by Aaron Finch dance around the vivacious, djent-driven guitars of Joe Pronini and Josh Finch.
Exploring the raw, exposed emotions that linger following the aftermath of a relationship’s conclusion, “Enmity” wears its heart on its sleeve, endearingly vulnerable and assuredly moving in its profound and purposeful lyrics: “Forgiveness is the hardest part / It drives to the core of who we are / But I do this for me and never for you / I’ll never forget who you really are.”
Second song “Infinite” is a true standout on Deathless, opening with glorious, glowing guitars and synths reminiscent of While She Sleeps, which soon melt into a crisp low-end showcase by the band’s bassist, Matt Shepherd. There’s a palpable atmosphere of grandeur and hope across the instrumentation of “Infinite”, which is further bolstered by Carter’s high-end tenor cleans: “Carve my own path in the infinite / Create a life imbued by this / Sense of meaning in spite of the pain.” The drumwork showcased on “Infinite” is absolutely top notch too, with hyper-energetic kick patterns and finely-tuned cymbals performed by the band’s drummer, Jack Burch.
Approaching the early-mid section of Deathless, a multitude of bangers rear their heads. “Throne Of Liars” is a crushing, hefty brute of a track delving into the hypocrisy of those who seek to control our lives and subjugate us, whilst themselves lacking integrity and autonomy. There’s a certain Polaris vibe to this one — it’s incredibly bouncy, soaring and deliriously-heavy. Meanwhile, “Hollow” is an anthemic adventure, commencing with dotted lead guitars that open the floodgates for fury-charged riffs to pulverise the listener. Whilst “Hollow” is home to one of The Uncharted’s strongest choruses — “Won’t you please just show me a sign / I’ve lost the joy of being alive” — it marks a point in Deathless where I begin to struggle somewhat.
Deathless was produced by Daniel Kerr of Avenue Studios, who is best known for his work with Our Hollow, Our Home. On a purely subjective level, I find Kerr’s mix on Deathless to be a touch too heavy-handed in the mid and top-end, whilst lacking the deep, rich bass frequencies that can be heard and quite importantly — felt — on mixes by other British metal producers like George Lever, for example. Stylistically, The Uncharted utilise this to their strength by doubling down on their 2010’s metalcore roots with sensibly-tuned guitars and melodious vocal offerings, both of which feel exceedingly rare in today’s market. It is, however, noteworthy for anyone on the picky side that the mix on Deathless is a little squishy in parts.
Moving onto the latter stages of Deathless, “Deceiver” is an incredibly impactful and relatable powerhouse track, a desperate call to those who have lost their way along life’s journey: “Life of agony, lost your sanity / Is this really all you want to be? Broken down again with no remedy / Aren’t you sick and tired of giving in?” Conversely, the album’s title track dives deep into self-acceptance and the futility in pursuing immortality, instead offering a narrative on our own impermanence. The Uncharted have gone all out on this finale, throwing symphonic strings, explosive guitar riffs, and soaring falsettos into the fray for what is undeniably this record’s greatest gift. The lyrics on show delicately balance mournfulness with conviction, delivering the upmost emotional weight: “My insignificance / The depths remain unknown to me / A dream of what could be / The sanctity in letting go.” What a way to close out a tremendous debut record.
As one final treat, The Uncharted provide some bonus tracks with digital versions of Deathless, namely their three pandemic-released singles, “Serenity”, “Closer” and “Suffer”. Whilst separate to the cohesiveness of Deathless, the additional songs offer new fans of the band more, and it is entirely in The Uncharted’s credit for giving their audience as complete a package as possible.