The Halo Effect may have started as five friends rekindling their musical camaraderie, but they quickly found themselves being one of heavy metal’s most celebrated new acts. Comprised of key architects of the iconic Gothenburg sound, these veterans - Mikael Stanne, Niclas Engelin, Jesper Strömblad, Peter Iwers, and Daniel Svensson - have turned a passion project into a global phenomenon.

Their journey began in 2021 with the release of "Shadowminds," a single that racked up millions of streams almost instantly. Their first album, Days of the Lost, followed suit, earning a Swedish Grammy nomination and widespread acclaim. Tours with metal heavyweights like Machine Head, Amon Amarth, and Meshuggah propelled their rise, culminating in a Rising Star trophy at the 2024 Metal Hammer Awards. Now, with their second album, March of the Unheard, the Halo Effect showcase both reverence for their roots and a willingness to expand their sound.

“Days of the Lost was just about having fun and reconnecting,” reflects vocalist Mikael Stanne, best known for his work with Dark Tranquillity. “But then it was like, ‘How do we follow up an album that was named one of the year’s best?’” Their answer: stay true to the Gothenburg sound while pushing boundaries.

Tracks like "Detonate" and "What We Become" bear the hallmarks of the genre - piercing guitar leads, propulsive percussion, and hooks built for mosh pits. But elsewhere, the band ventures into uncharted territory. The orchestral strings of "Between Directions," the proggy synths on opener "Conspire to Deceive," and the symphonic grandeur of instrumental closer "Coda" illustrate a band unafraid to evolve. Stanne’s melodic vocals add an emotional depth that elevates the material even further.

Guitarist Niclas Engelin explains their approach: “This time, we let go of overthinking. It’s more progressive, more layered, more everything.” That ethos shines throughout the album, which doubles down on the interplay of their storied past with their forward-thinking vision.

Lyrically, March of the Unheard delves deeper than its predecessor. Where Days of the Lost reflected on their personal and professional relationship with metal, the new album explores the youthful search for identity. “When we were kids, we weren’t the ones picked for sports teams,” Stanne shares. “We turned to music to find ourselves. This album taps into that feeling of being an outsider, of discovering who you are through music.”

The seeds for the album were planted even before the band’s first live performance at Sweden Rock Festival, where their debut set necessitated creative solutions to stretch a 41-minute album into a full hour. That acoustic intro evolved into "Coda," a piece that both closes March of the Unheard and symbolizes their progression.