{"id":229191,"date":"2026-01-14T12:55:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T11:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/?p=229191"},"modified":"2026-01-14T14:25:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:25:30","slug":"unexpectance-solus-ipse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/unexpectance-solus-ipse\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpectance – Solus Ipse"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Spanish metalcore\/melodeath quintet Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong> lived up to their name when I encountered them for the first time in 2022, boasting a remarkably meaty and riff-packed assault on their sophomore effort Vortex<\/em><\/a>. After recruiting a new drummer, a new vocalist, and a new lead guitarist, their upcoming salvo Solus Ipse<\/em> threatens to sound quite a bit different, despite tapping similar Dante-centric philosophical wells for its theme. This potential shift didn’t hamper my interest, however, as their chunky, groovy songwriting held up quite well over time. Considering Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s rhythm guitarist and bassist both carry over from the last lineup, I have no reason to believe that solid backbone incurred any serious injury.<\/p>\n

The same can’t be said for my<\/em> backbone, after spending some quality time with Solus Ipse<\/em>. These Spaniards still understand what it means to groove, and groove hard<\/em>. While Solus Ipse<\/em> certainly leans heavier into the metalcore side of Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s sound, perhaps to its detriment especially in regards to the new higher register screams, Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong> still know their way around hooks, riffs, and momentum. Reeking of Orbit Culture<\/strong><\/a> restlessness, Aeternam<\/strong><\/a>-esque melodicism and verve, and embellished by ominous trem-picked leads\u2014some of which, oddly enough, resemble those singled out refrains which made Unfathomable Ruination<\/strong>’s Finitude<\/em><\/a> so compelling (“Hybris”)\u2014Solus Ipse<\/em>’s sycopated patterns and chunky stop-starts play companion to blistering barrages of double-bass-backed ballistics. Sealing the deal, and representing my favorite aspect of Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s sound, the entire record is presented in Spanish, with nary a syllable of English to mar the experience. I may not understand what I’m hearing nearly as well (yet), but the effectiveness of Spanish’s cadence and character in this context is undeniable.<\/p>\n

I also can’t deny Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s ability to craft dynamic, crunchy, and satisfying tunes when all the pieces fall into place. Especially in the back half, Solus Ipse<\/em> is a clinic in effervescent energy, crushing riffs, and rabid pacing (“Netamorpha,” “Ethos,” “Samsara,” and “Hybris”). In fact, I’d say these three attributes are Solus Ipse<\/em>’s core strengths, as early highlights “Momji,” “Ataraxia,” and “Gnosis” successfully conjure the same neck-snapping momentum. Those early cuts communicate that momentum through more overt metalcore language, whereas the back end swings the pendulum a little closer to boisterous melodic death metal (“Emp\u00edreo”). Through it all, Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s lead guitar steals the show, brilliantly weaving melodies in and out of bulky riffs and chuggy breakdowns as if they weren’t obstacles to evade, but rather partners to unite in a destructive dance (“Momji,” “Gnosis,” “Ethos,” “Hybris”).<\/p>\n

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Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong>’s ability to walk a tightrope between similar, but distinct, styles showcases their maturity and versatility as writers, but Solus Ipse<\/em> as a whole isn’t as strong as previous efforts. The primary aspect that gets in my way of enjoying this entertaining back and forth more are, unfortunately, the vocals. I miss the greater dominance of deeper growls and mid-pitch roars that pervaded Vortex<\/em>. While they feature here frequently, those higher-pitched screams\u2014while admirably performed and brimming with piss and vinegar\u2014feel not just more prevalent, but also much more monotonous, and thereby create a fair amount of drag. In other areas, Solus Ipse<\/em> is a touch more repetitive and less cohesive, rhythmically speaking, compared to the never-ending cavalcade of twists and tempos that Vortex<\/em> effortlessly wrangled. Most easily heard in opening duo, “Sophrosyne” and “Momji,” this kind of weak point forces the impression that I must choose between options to either keep or discard on future spins. I would much rather feel compelled to adopt every track.<\/p>\n

Following up a contender like Vortex<\/em> always posed a daunting proposition. Considering the various lineup changes and the 4-year gap between releases, what Solus Ipse<\/em> accomplishes is admirable. Unexpectance<\/strong><\/strong> remains an act to watch, as they routinely offer songwriting that either moves the needle for the style or holds great potential to do so with a little more massaging. A ton of great ideas populate Solus Ipse<\/em>, but the overall product lacks the same consistent hype-worthy quality of the previous installment. Still, it’s worth checking out at least once, even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of the style.<\/p>\n