After listening to the albums Apex and Abyss by Canadian heavy metal band Unleash the Archers, it's hard to go back. Fast-paced, earnest, and driven by a gripping narrative, Apex and Abyss has been my obsession for the past five months. These two albums have set the standard of all other concept albums I listen to. It's my go-to playlist when taking the long drive to work. It's perfect listening for a workout, when you want to feel like a sword-wielding hero on a battlefield instead of an out-of-breath jogger like you actually are. I've spent enough hours listening to Apex and Abyss that I have a firm handle on what I believe are the best songs and which are the least best. Time to express my rabid fanaticism.
Before the countdown starts, here is a brief recap of the story told through the lyrics of Apex and Abyss. For a more detailed and official summary, watch vocalist Britney Slayes' track by track explanation for both albums.
20. Shadow Guide (Apex track 02)
Out of all songs in both albums, this is the one I least look forward to. While making this list, I ranked each song based on the criteria of (1) importance to the story and (2) overall musicality. The lyrics of this song describe the recently awakened Immortal looking for a sign from a falcon, his titular shadow guide, to point him to the direction of his new master. Overall, the appearance is not the most compelling way to kick off an adventure story. This is also probably the least catchy song on the list, it never gets stuck in my head. While far from being a bad song, it is the weakest in the catalogue, especially considering the masterpieces that are to come.
19. Waking Dream (Abyss track 01)
I give "Waking Dream" credit for being unique: it's one of those songs that builds up, adding a new layer of sound with each of the repeating stanzas. The gradual growth gives me chills each time, and the increasing power behind Slayes's vocals makes it a cathartic song to lip-synch to. It does a perfect job conveying The Immortal's rest between the two halves of the story, as well as establishing the refrain in the final track of the album. While the song functions well, it still is low on the list for its short length and lyrical simplicity.
18. The Coward's Way (Apex track 05)
This is the first song on The Immortal's journey to find The Matriarch's sons, as the initial verse of the song serves as pure exposition. It sets up the corrupt nature of the sons and captures the personality of the eldest as being - you guessed it - a coward. It serves its purpose for establishing the feeling of not only breaking into a quest, but a noble one, as The Immortal cleanses the land of the weak and wicked. While it is no doubt a kickass jam, the chorus doesn't quite deliver the same punch as some of the other songs above on this list.
17. Through Stars (Abyss track 03)
Similar to "Shadow Guide," "Through Stars" has a weaker role in the narrative. "Through Stars" appears as the third track on the second album, giving us a straight look into The Immortal's thoughts after he is awakened once again. Outright declarations of emotions are not the most powerful source of writing (perhaps you're familiar with the phrase "show don't tell"), but that's also kind of a requirement for songwriting, so I can't get too critical. Also, the guitar solo at the end is absolutely killer. I have the habit of singing The Offspring's "Gone Away" over it every time the song plays.
16. Apex (Apex track 10)
I shocked myself by placing "Apex" so low on this list. It's the end of the first album, the intense closer to act one, what could go wrong? Nothing went wrong, it just came off the heels from the song "Call Me Immortal," which also acts as winding down the narrative, so it comes off as a bit repetitive. Still, this song rocks. The Immortal's description of his pain and how he looks to his mountain as a place of healing is touching, serving as a great relief after such hard-fought battles. The musical rise and fall creates an apex of its own, showing off UtA's talent for writing songs with both power and meaning.
15. The Matriarch (Apex track 03)
This song is just pure wicked fun. The lyrics are mostly exposition, told in the form of a third person fable about the title character's villainy. However, the creativity and poetry used to describe The Matriarch and her deeds is visceral and irresistible. Everyone loves a good villain song. 'Nuff said.
14. Faster Than Light (Abyss track 07)
When you're on a jog and need a reminder to run, this is the song you want to appear next on your playlist. I have a feeling that's exactly what UtA had in mind while writing this, because that's exactly what they did with the music video.
Not only is it catchy as hell, the lyrics convey the inspiration to move forward and become more than what you thought you could be. As The Immortal and The Grandson outrun The Matriarch, you too can break past whatever is holding you back. Or just go for a run.
13. Abyss (Abyss track 02)
After waking up from his sleep between albums, The Immortal greets us with this soaring epic. Despite what the title implies, "Abyss" sets the tone of the album as brighter and more hopeful, while the contemplative lyrics reflect The Immortal's internal story arc. It sets him on a quest of the physical, mental, and spiritual. Also, you can bet your ass every time Slayes declares, "I AM THE WEAPON OF EMPIRES PAST," I sing along. It makes me feel that much cooler.
12. Ten Thousand Against One (Apex track 07)
This song is about the third son The Immortal must hunt down, or rather, his loyal soldiers who are slain to protect their general. The story in this song is almost a tragedy, as an army must fight one person they know they cannot kill. It's also an absolute beast to listen to, thundering with heavy percussions, making it the perfect song to listen to while marching off to an epic fantasy battle. Highly recommend listening to it before a DnD session.
11. Awakening (Apex track 01)
Every time I play this album, I relish in the cinematic buildup and that initial YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! from Slayes. It's like a welcome home, in a way. The Immortal describes who he is and what he sees after waking up, with the foreboding feeling that this master will not be like the others who used him before. And, indeed, we get that feeling of dread hearing the voice of The Matriarch, performed by guitarist Grant Truesdall, which becomes a constant companion to The Immortal and his journey. It's the perfect blend of excitement and narrative to start a grand tale.
10. Call Me Immortal (Apex track 09)
In my mind, this is the true grand finale to the first album Apex. This song is very narrative-driven, as The Immortal reflects on the role he has played in The Matriarch's rise to power, setting up his emotional character arc in Abyss. The sweeping instrumentals perfectly transposes The Immortal's tension into song, and the titular declaration of "Call me Immortal" not only builds hype, but closes the book on act one of this epic saga.
9. Soulbound (Abyss track 06)
In the school of writing, there exists a rule known as "planting and payoff," also known by the name "Chekov's gun." If you want to use something late in the story, make sure it's mentioned earlier on. "Soulbound" is the Chekov's gun of Apex and Abyss, and the payoff is a wickedly good song. The Immortal spent half of act one hunting down the sons of The Matriarch, and this song in act two is about him being chased by their zombified forms. Thematically, it serves a purpose as it shows The Immortal's ill deeds coming back to haunt him. Musically, it's a rush that makes you feel the desperation and adrenaline of the chase.
8. The Wind That Shapes the Land (Abyss track 08)
This song is arguably the most important in both albums. It's the moment that The Immortal achieves apotheosis, summons his inner strength, and finally takes down his villainous master. The construction of this song is not my favorite, as it suffers a few starts-and-stops, but it makes up for it by featuring an intense buildup and experimental BPM switches. This song constructs a landscape of the rise and fall of battle through its music. It belongs in the ranks of Bohemian Rhapsody, Welcome to the Black Parade, and Jesus of Suburbia as self-contained orchestral epics.
7. Earth and Ashes (Apex track 08)
Within the story of Apex and Abyss, there also exists the story of one of The Matriarch's sons, a peaceful soul who renounced living his life to obtain power. When The Immortal arrives to bring him home, there is no battle to be fought, only an emotional toll as The Immortal realizes the unfairness of the situation. The son's assertion of "Earth and ashes / when I'm gone will still remain," reference his investment of time into his love and his family - instead of power like his brothers - show how he is in fact made richer than them all. This is proved to us when his son, referred to only as The Grandson, appears in Abyss to become The Immortal's most influential friend and guide. All of this to say, "Earth and Ashes" is an incredible song for the seeds it plants into the narrative. The duet between Slayes and guitarist Andrew Kingsley adds a new dimension of character as well, making the exchange that much more emotional.
6. Return to Me (Abyss track 05)
Out of all of the songs in these two albums, "Return to Me" is what I would describe as the most fun. The song is sung from the point of view of The Matriarch as she begins chasing after The Immortal and The Grandson. It's a total power trip as she sings about how her total control over the universe and the fate of every soul within. Her declaration of "the universe is mine" and the echoing unclean vocals by Truesdell feel so visceral. It hits like a battering ram on a rhinoceros driving a tank. It's one of those songs that I can feel vibrate within my own bones as I listen.
5. Cleanse the Bloodlines (Apex track 04)
If I had one tenth of The Matriarch's confidence, I'd have enough to take over the world for myself. This song takes place early on in Apex and is crucial to explaining the plot, as she gives her orders to The Immortal. The choral chanting and heavy percussions set the stage for what is to come - an epic adventure in which the fate of the known universe hangs in the balance of all-powerful forces. Sit down, Sauron, you've been replaced. While making this list, I did not consider music videos as part of the ranking. Still, I need to mention how much I appreciate the video for "Cleanse the Bloodlines." As a fiction writer who works tirelessly on my own passion projects, watching this video gives me so much inspiration and hope. Every time you see beautiful people on screen, you can tell they relish every second of it. I wish to be there one day.
4. Afterlife (Abyss track 10)
I'm a sucker for a good ending. That's why I will stand by Return of the Jedi as my favorite Star Wars movie - I don't care what the nerds say! "Afterlife" concludes the story of The Immortal in the most satisfying way by having him win his freedom and pass on the message of making your future bright, no matter what darkness lies in your past. "Afterlife" also brings us into a new dimension of music, as it both opens and closes with a whimsical flute solo that sounds like it came right out of the golden era of Disney. The return to the melody of "Waking Dream" also flexes just how much thought and care UtA puts into their songwriting. "Afterlife" is the perfect ending to a phenomenal duology of albums and entices you to listen to them again and again.
3. Legacy (Abyss track 04)
As we reach my final top three, we continue the subplot of "Earth and Ashes" with "Legacy." This song occurs early on in Abyss, finding The Immortal after his ruminating in "Through Stars." Suddenly, there is an explosion of sound as a new character emerges - The Grandson of the Matriarch. He declares, "As I was wondering the world / trying so hard to find you." Slayes' delivery of this line shows off not only her impressive vocal range, but her acting as well. Us, as the listeners, feel "found" by this song. The introduction of The Grandson as a guiding light and sort of father-figure to The Immortal is a much needed warm welcome. It solidifies the tone of Abyss to be more hopeful and inspiring, which is something that we all need in life.
2. False Walls (Apex track 06)
If you read the whole list up to now, you'll notice that I have a certain preference for songs: narrative-driven with musicality that reflects the story. That's why I rank "False Walls" as one of my favorites. Despite it being another "hunt down the bastard" song in the same vein as "The Coward's Way" and "Ten Thousand Against One," "False Walls" isn't just about The Immortal on a hunt. It's not a physical challenge - it's a challenge of his own mind. "False Walls" tells the story of the son that takes most after his mother, a religious overlord who uses deception and lies to control his followers. The lyrics start by placing us into a location (To the south there's a city / Ruled by a serpent tongue) giving us the vibes of an old western or samurai showdown. The words used to describe The Immortal's struggle over the false prophet are pure poetry (As though a fog has been lifted cries echo around us / And like his brother before him I feel no remorse). To top it all off, the music is absolutely, shamelessly, 100% badass. My favorite part is the guitar solo that tears through the bridge - it's slow, precise, but electrifying - painting a visual image of a swirling sandstorm, much like the false walls conjured by the false prophet. While this song may just describe another mission for The Immortal in act one, the execution is beyond phenomenal. It shows off what a seasoned and talented group of musicians is truly capable of.
1. Carry the Flame
This might be a controversial opinion. "Carry the Flame" is not a structurally experimental song like "The Wind that Shapes the Land," nor is it lyrically complex like "False Walls." It's possible to say that this song is the most simplistic in its structure - verse / pre-chorus / chorus / verse / pre-chorus / chorus. Abyss was the first album I listened to by UtA. I didn't even know it was a concept album. Yet, when I heard "Carry the Flame" for the first time, I knew I was listening to something special. There was meaning behind the music and heart poured into every word. This song takes place between the final battle of "The Wind that Shapes the Land" and the grand finale of "Afterlife." What could possibly happen between those two plot points that demands a song? Oh, right, The Grandson dies! This song is a heartbreaking goodbye to the one friend The Immortal has ever known, with him desperately begging, "All I ask is one moment more." Kingsley sings the role of The Grandson, giving the audience a mental throwback to his role in "Earth and Ashes." He trusts the future in the hands of The Immortal and promises that he will always be with him. It's tragic and bittersweet. Each repetition of "My guiding light / Fire in the night" becomes more heartfelt than the last, and when Kingsley's voice finally slips away, Slayes comes in harder, embodying all of The Immortal's inner strength and will to continue living. The simplicity works in its favor. What else needs to be said?
Aaaaaanddddd...that's my list. It's 100% subjective so there is no need to take it too seriously. I'm speaking from my soul here. Regardless, I hope that I have properly conveyed how much I love these two albums and how much it means to me.
For the sake of streamlining everything, here is my list ranked by individual album:
APEX
10. Shadow Guide
9. The Coward's Way
8. Apex
7. The Matriarch
6. Ten Thousand Against One
5. Awakening
4. Call Me Immortal
3. Earth and Ashes
2. Cleanse the Bloodlines
1. False Walls
ABYSS
10. Waking Dream
9. Through Stars
8. Faster than Light
7. Abyss
6. Soulbound
5. The Wind that Shapes the Land
4. Return to me
3. Afterlife
2. Legacy
1. Carry the Flame
👏🏾👏🏾
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