Slide Guitarist REACTS to UNLEASH THE ARCHERS- Awakening (LIVE in Studio, FIRST TIME REACTION!) 

I've watched a ton of UTA reactions, but I've never heard this song broken down like you just did. Awesome!

Thanks a ton for that awesome breakdown and shout out!!! I had a strong feeling you'd love it! It's definitely a masterclass video. IMO, they are the most criminally under-exposed band out there. I'll dm you some more info but if you want more, abyss, soulbound, faster than light and even their cover of Northwest Passage are all amazing! And for the sex-like experience...you're welcome 😉

The wind that shapes the land...unleash the archers

I love watching the journey that reactors go on with this song. [intro] [pause] "Wow, there musicians are really good!" [unpause] [Brittney wail] "Holy crap!"

They just Won the Canadian JUNO for Best Album....

They are all absolutely mind blowing! But their drummer, oh my god.

Since you clearly know your stuff, I'd request you just jump straight into their best composition - The Wind That Shapes the Land from their latest Juno winning album.

Very competent reaction. You hear things that other reactors don't.

you also check it out tonight we ride , heartless world, cleans the bloodline , abyss , faster then light , or the best written song in the last 20 years the wind that shapes the land.

I also love how the drummer does his double bass. He goes 2 and 2, not alternating after each hit

My Recommendation to UTA would also be 'cleanse the bloodlines' and if you need more marathon, listen to 'faster than light'

Hey all- what other Unleash the Archers tunes should I react to? Comment and let me know!

Holy fucking shit... how does this reaction only have only 5k views. The reaction and breakdown is epic, the entertainment value is epic and you're fucking funny in your own way. Okay I admit I'm a little stoned but I can't be alone here :)

That was a fun react. Thanks man. Stay cool.

Their latest albums (Abyss and Apex) are concepts albums. The singer (Britney Slays) made a few explaining videos about those albums (e.g. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ofm9RneJ1bs.html&ab_channel=NapalmRecords) For next reactions I'd recommend: - "Tonight we ride" if you wanna experience her ("Brittney Slayes") vocal range - "Soulbound" just PowerMetal - "Test your metal" simple but absolute great old school metal

Yessss! These guys are soooo good!

Love your breakdown of this song! Great analysis! 🙏🎶🎵🎸🥁🤘

GTA! cool....a shout out from Bathurst ST.! Great review! Thanks!

I wish I could like this video more than once. Excellent.

That was one of the best cases of 'Britney Shock' I've ever seen! 🤣

This is the album recording dubbed over the video. Here's a vague breakdown to give you a bit of context behind this songs lyrics and the album it's from - Apex(2017). This is a concept album telling a story track by track about an Immortal being. This is the opening song on the album. It is sung from the Immortals perspective(not all the tracks are), about being awoken in his mountain hollow from a 1000 year sleep. As a covenant of birth, the immortal must do the bidding of whoever awakens him. As the immortal begins his journey, he is led by a shadow of a falcon flying above(track 2 Shadow Guide). you find out that The Matriarch(which is played by the male vocalist in this song Awakening) was the one to awaken him. She wants him to find her four sons, so she can kill them and perform a blood ritual to gain immortality for herself(pretty dark haha), and his journey to find them. Each son has their own song about them on the album. The closing song Apex, is about the immortal going back to sleep in his mountain and it is a phenomenally written song. Their new album Abyss, which came out in August 2020,, is a continuation of this story, and on track 2(titled Abyss like the album) the immortal has awoken on a spaceship, confused as hell, wondering why he's not in his mountain but in space. I won't go into the rest of the album Subbed from Brampton 🤘🇨🇦

I have 2 recommendations for UTA: "Cleanse the Bloodlines" for something heavier and "Abyss" for something synth.

you should react too when the singer here (Brittney Hayes a.k.a. Brittney Slayes) singing Queen of the riche by Queensryche.

Tonight we ride same band

great reaction Mike, I have been a Nightwish fan for over 20 years, and im a fan of this band now too since I heard them a few years back. Gotta say, at one point in the video you had me howling with laughter, "cookie monster vocals" I have never heard those growling style vocals referred to as that but it is pure genius. No im not a fan really of bands who over use that, or constantly use it, but interspersed a little like this is great and adds an amazing effect. Keep up the great work my friend, much love from the UK.

Loved...'awwww Shit... There is so much awesome shit going on here...'

Great reaction! You really know alot about music! 😘😘

Mike awesome reaction and analysis as always. You are fun to watch and provide some great insight into these songs. I don't post much even though I've been subbed for a little while, but I always look forward when you release a video. And now anytime I see Grant singing his "unclean" vocal parts, I'll forever associate it with Cookie Monster, LOL! I've been a fan of Unleash the Archers since seeing them at ProgPower USA 2015 in Atlanta, GA. Of all the bands on the ticket for that event, UTA blew me away... and that was against successful veteran acts like Anathema, Angra, Armored Saint, Dragonland, Riverside, and Saxon. UTA's musicianship along with Brittney Slaye's vocals and energy just reached out, pulled us in, and took us on a ride for the whole setlist. I was set to go see them again at the ProgPower USA event along with the other awesome bands in the ATL, but alas, due to the coronavirus, that show was canceled and UTA won't be able to rejoin the lineup in 2022. And you were spot on, on UTA's style of music and influences. While UTA is definitely power metal, you can hear in their music that their music has been and is being influenced by an array of other metal genres including death metal and melodic metal (Scott, drummer, and Brayden, former guitarist, were in a death metal band before they formed UTA with Brittney), some thrash, and of course that old school 80's heavy metal ala Iron Maiden. Speaking of Maiden, Brittney has stated in interviews that Iron Maiden's 'Best of the Beast' and Bruce Dickinson had a huge impact on her as a vocalist. She also says that Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Queensryche's Geoff Tate along with Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and Jonas Heidgert of Dragonland are influences along with Daniel Heiman from Lost Horizon. This "Awakening" track you reacted to is off of UTA's 4th full-length LP titled Apex from 2017. As you asked on what other UTA tunes to react to, you will get requests for "Tonight We Ride," which is another popular tune from UTA off of their Time Stands Still album, that a number of reaction channels do, due to Brittney hitting some insanely high notes. You will also get a lot of requests from their latest album, titled Abyss, which they went ahead and decided to release last year despite the pandemic cancelling their tour that was going to go along with it. Abyss is an excellent album with great songs, but I would suggest more songs off the Apex album to start with because both Apex and Abyss are concept or story albums with Abyss continuing the storyline that begun on Apex. Off of Apex, "Cleanse the Bloodlines" is my personal favorite for the music, the chorus is so powerful, as well as the artistry behind the video, but the title track "Apex" along with "Ten Thousand Against One" are way up there. You really cannot go wrong with any of the songs off of Apex though or Abyss for that matter.

Awesome breakdown 👍👌

Nice analysis and reaction

Really enjoyed your reaction man. Keep up the great work.

Most under rated band ever.

Months late on this, but I agree with your Hansi observation. As Arjen L would say "They both sound like they are screaming from a mountain top".

After listening to your commentary, I have to add a few things. Please read my other comment explaining the lyrical content put this in context. The writing of the composition matches the lyrics/storyline. Awakening is Chapter 1 of 20 in the Immortal's storyline. The ominous synth intro gives us the feeling that something "dark and/or evil" is looming on the horizon". The song is sung in the Immortal's perspective. The verses written in minor, are to keep that dark, ominous feeling. the immortal calls the mountain hollow he slept in a prison and a safe-haven. 2nd verse he can sense that the one who's awakened him does not have good intentions. As I mentioned in my other comment, the immortal is bound by a covenant of birth to do the bidding of the one who has awakened him. The switch to major for the chorus is to highlight the Immortal's elation of finally being awakened after 1000 years, feeling revitalized, and ready to set out on a new journey. In my opinion, this is to highlight the Immortal's feelings during his first waking moments, before he begins to sense the coming darkness. The guitarist Grant, who did the growls, is actually playing the roll of the Matriarch (who is the story's antagonist), which makes sense to use growls as to emphasize the evil/darkness of the Matriarch. It is the "chant" that the Matriarch uses to awaken the Immortal - "Come to me; Awakening. Follow my voice, come to me." If this were to be read as a book, the order would be: 1 - The Matriarch's Awakening chant. 2 - The chorus, the immortal awakens feeling revitalized and ready to journey. 3 - The verses and pre-choruses.

Here's how I describe her - if Ronnie James Dio (Sabbath/Rainbow), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Geoff Tate (Queensryche) and Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) produced a female offspring, it would be Brittney Slayes!

You should check out Tonight we ride next great mixture of vocals all around.

Awesome reaction/analysis. Well done man. Tonight we ride next!

A great description of UTA is Iron Maiden & Dio had a love child LOL

Just trying to make my way through all the reactions to this video (I believe it may be a requirement for all RU-vid Reactors). I've seen it a million times and it never gets old. I love when people hear Brittney Slays for the first time... She is amazing. Normally I would say you shouldn't pause in the solo, but your analysis made the pauses worth it. I have a feeling you would love their cover of "Northwest Passage" the old Canadian Folk Tune.

New stuff for you to react to... Delain is releasing a new album, and there are few songs released from it already on RU-vid. This is with their reformed lineup. With a new female front vocalist. Frozen Crown, from Italy, is a female-fronted band I just found ...they have been around for a half dozen years and they also have a new lineup for the past two years with a new female guitar player , who is excellent, a new Young drummer and a new bass player... oh, and a very good new sound, and I think their new album comes out next month. Also, Amaranthe and Within Temptation have had some new songs that you haven't looked at yet. And while we all hope that Unleash the Archers comes out with a new album soon, Kamelot does, and their sound is excellent it is kind of similar to where the new Within Temptation sound is.

Legend has it that Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio conjured a daughter of Metal. They bestowed upon her the name of Brittney Slayes, and that is what she does.

I like your musical knowledge and would be thrilled you to react Wintersun-Time (Live reherssal)! Their drummer is Kai Hahto from Nightwish and they really are masters of the craft of metal

Absolutely loved your reaction and breakdown. This is my favorite song from UTA. I’ve always told my friends that if I won the lottery I would ask the band permission to turn this song into a movie. Absolutely love the concept. So much power and energy in this song. I always feel like I’ve run a race and won after listening to it.

Brittany was trained as a classical opera singer. But Bruce Dickenson from Iron Maiden is her true vocal inspiration

You are such a music nerd and it shows so much! I love your videos

You really need to check out "Legacy" by them. the best song from their latest album in my opinion.

Their song Tonight we Ride is a must!

IMMORTAL IS MORE THAN A NAME! AWAKENING To look up into the night's sky, to see the stars they are changed To know a thousand years or more have passed, and I am the same This mountain hollow that keeps me in a suffocating embrace A prison and a safe haven, it's always been this way Lo, a new master calls me to awakening, I know this one brings the end Far out beyond the darkness I've been living in it's true, a whole new world awaits Stellar constellations rise, lighting my way in the night Once again revitalized, to roam; to never die My path begins with the new dawn; a voice is calling my name It always starts as whispering then manifests to a scream I'm drawn to the creature that wakes me, bound to them by the curse My soul exists only to serve, a covenant of birth Fear not the task ahead there's no escaping it, there's no good nor evil here Stellar constellations rise, lighting my way in the night Once again revitalized, to roam; to never die Come to me, awakening Follow my voice, come to me Fear not the task ahead there's no escaping it, there's no good nor evil here Stellar constellations rise, lighting my way in the night Once again revitalized, to roam; to never Lighting my way in the night To roam; to never die

COOKIE MONSTER VOCALS!!! Ha, Ha!!!

Check out VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY!! They are amazing. They just had a live show in Athens Greece post on RU-vid a few months ago if you want to see them live (it’s stellar) but songs to check IMO is Father Sun or Cosmic Soul

There are many songs from the last two albums that you could do but I would suggest something from the abyss album and that would be what I consider my favorite track because it's quite different for them and it is called Legacy... they have a very clever lyric video out there with good imagery

You should listen to their take on Stan Roger's "Nortwest Passage"... and I love "Cleanse the Bloodlines". One of the better reactions I've seen. Off to check out your review list.

The first thing I said when I heard this song I want a collaboration with Judas Priest

Great reaction!!! i hopes you get toes reactions to unleash the archers (soulbound)(ten thousand against one) (abyss) and defiantly (the wind that shapes the land) !!

This is a comment to drive the RU-vid algorithm. :)

Polka music on the drums.... funny you should say that, because this drummer in an interview, or someone else said that the drummer said in some other interview, that some of the songs are played like doing polka, but double speed

Dope shirt! lol

Interesting comparison between Britney and Hansi. Try Cleanse the Bloodlines next or The wind that shapes the land (no video).

Legend has it that one dark and stormy night, Bruce Dickinson and Ronny James Dio hailed the gods to conjure a daughter, and thus was Brittney Slayes created.

Grat reaction, as usual,still I would love you to react to Wintersun, Sons of winter and stars: Studio play through ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Tl5T-glTdXw.html . You think that´s fast? Great guitars, voices and of course Kai Hahto on drums.

Great Reaction! Pretty long for a 7 min. song, however you did not waste any of my time at all...every time you stopped it you had clever insights as to what they were doing and why. It was very apparent that you know what your talking about and I found it quite useful since I just know that I love the song but do not know all the technical terms and possible influences but I tend to agree with you on them. As a music lover but not knowing all the details, I think this is hands down THE BEST Reaction/Breakdown to this song that I have ever heard and I have watched many reactions to this song in particular. You really have a good ear for things and the knowledge to pick it up mid-song and explain it. Very well done, new SUB here since your analysis was amazing even though it was my first time to your channel. Good luck and thanks the reaction.

This drummer also commented on beat as doubletree steroid pokka

Great UtA reaction! Many have said Brittney could be the child of Halford and Dio!! I also agree about death metal vocals - I am not a big fan myself. However, when they are mixed with clean melodic vocals - like with Epica or certain Fear Factory songs (and of course UtA) - it sounds great!! The solo after the cookie monster vocals really reminds me of Petrucci's work on some DT songs (like on Scenes from a Memory). For more UtA, check out the videos Tonight We Ride, Soulbound, Cleanse the Bloodlines. Oh, nice Hansi Kursch reference - another great singer/band!!

Nice precision playing, but my favorite spot in the entire performance was the singer's entrance. Melodically, it sounds very European to me!

EPIC SONG! EPIC REACTION! SUB! Their breakout was "Tonight We Ride"

I would recommend their song SOULBOUND also I think you might like another band the history buff likes called LOVEBITES they are an all female metal band from Japan here is a link to one of their songs ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-99zsH6iG_6c.html

Totally agree with the interspersed growls, a whole song of them is too much for me as well.

Listen to the complete Album APEX. It is worth the time. Oh...and btw...welcome aboard the High Speed Power Metal Train called Unleash the Archers.....BRITTNEY SLAYES !

Dude, you must check out Jinjer. Pick a song and GO!