ALBUM REVIEW ~ TETRARCH ~ 'UNSTABLE'

I'm Music Magazine, Tetrarch, Unstable, Napalm Records , Negative Noise, Diamond Rowe, Josh Flore, Ruben Limas,

Atlanta shredders, Tetrarch, created quite a buzz with their debut album Freak. Released in 2017, the album served to expose the metal masses to their signature blend of Metalcore with a healthy side of Nu-metal. While that term (Nu-metal) may sound like a dirty word to some, when executed correctly, it can definitely take an already great song to the next level. Tetrarch proved this with songs like “Freak” and “Mary” on their debut. Now, the band are back to build on the momentum of their first album and further develop their sound. Their new album, Unstable, is scheduled to be released on April 30th. With their second full length effort, the band is here to cement their place in the heavy metal community and they waste no time making their statement.

The album starts out with a Nu-metal banger taken straight out of the pages of 2001. On this track, “I’m Not Right,” we see the band refine all of the tricks that they pulled on the first album without sacrificing heaviness. The progression of their song writing is evident before even making it to the halfway point of this song. This leads us right into the second track, “Negative Noise,” which is much faster and more aggressive of a song than the first. The Slipknot influences in this song are undeniable. The song seems tailor made for a circle pit. And, in case anyone had any doubt about the band’s technical abilities, lead guitarist Diamond Rowe treats us to one hell of a guitar solo near the close of the song before the band goes into a full “beat down” breakdown.

On the title track, “Unstable,” the band continue to wear their influences on their sleeves, this time, channeling Korn. The hauntingly creepy guitar squeals can be heard throughout the song while vocalist Josh Fore delivers his vocals with an almost hip-hop like cadence with a dash of angst. If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine that it’s 1998 and you’re at the Family Values Tour. After this, the band get into their most recent single, “You Never Listen.” This song is much more of a rock ballad and, let’s be honest, what metal album would be complete without a good old fashioned ballad?

“Take a Look Inside” is probably the heaviest song on the album as it showcases drummer Ruben Limas’ double bass playing chops. However, it’s when we get to the breakdown near the end of the song that the band really goes hard in one of the most intense moments of any of their songs to date. Do you need to let out some aggression after a hard day at work? This is the song for you.

These days, it’s rare to find an album that doesn’t have a weak point but Tetrarch have pulled it off. Every song on Unstable has potential to become a hit. The band have really perfected the art of songwriting including a big, catchy hook on every song without sacrificing the integrity of the song structure. Many bands choose to take a more simplistic approach to their song structure in order to achieve this but Tetrarch have delivered an album that is every bit as technical as it is catchy. Not only do the band really seem to grasp how to write a “hit song,” but they understand the art of creating an album that flows perfectly from one song to another. The perfect example is the song chosen to close the album, “Trust Me.” This song sees the band slow down the tempo and put vocalist, Josh Fore, at the center. You can feel the emotion and vulnerability in his voice as he belts out the chorus. It is, perhaps, the perfect way to close an album where the listener already feels so connected to the messages of the songs.

Overall, Tetrarch really knocked it out of the park with Unstable and have shown that they have what it takes to really enjoy some longevity in the metal and hard rock scene. They are definitely going to be a band to keep an eye on in the coming years. This album shows that they have the potential to become one of the most successful in the game.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Jason Jarvis