Unto Others

Unto Others sounds like a midnight drive through a city that never saw the sun. It is a striking collision between the driving, heroic energy of traditional heavy metal and the shadowy, melancholic textures of 80s gothic rock. Imagine the melodic twin-guitar attack of Iron Maiden filtered through the gloomy, chorus-drenched atmosphere of The Sisters of Mercy or The Cure. The music is propulsive yet deeply sad, characterized by tight drumming and soaring leads that feel both vintage and vital.

What sets them apart is Gabriel Franco's distinctive vocal delivery. Eschewing the typical high-pitched wails of metal, he opts for a rich, deadpan baritone that feels more at home in a smoke-filled post-punk club than a stadium. This creates a fascinating tension: the instruments are pushing for a high-energy anthem, while the vocals pull the listener back into a world of noir storytelling, addiction, and existential dread. It is metal for people who wear too much black and rock for people who miss the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Newcomers should start with the album Mana (released under their former name, Idle Hands). It perfectly encapsulates their signature sound with tracks like 'Give Me to the Night,' which showcases their ability to blend catchy, pop-adjacent hooks with a dark, aggressive backbone. From there, move to Strength to hear their production become more muscular and their storytelling more ambitious.