REVIEW: thrown - UNWANTED
There’s heavy, and then there’s THROWN. The Swedish hardcore and metalcore outfit have built their name on doing what they do best delivering raw aggression, crushing heaviness and music that makes listeners want to throw themselves straight into the nearest pit. With UNWANTED, they've taken everything that made them stand out in the first place and pushed it even further. Heavier, more brutal and louder than before, this is THROWN at their absolute best, delivering an album that leaves little room for disappointment.
Since forming in 2021, thrown have gone from a rising name in the heavy scene to one of its biggest modern success stories. From their EXTENDED PAIN EP to 2024's EXCESSIVE GUILT. They've built a reputation for no-nonsense songwriting and a sound that gets straight to the point. There's no need for unnecessaries here. thrown know exactly what they're about, and UNWANTED feels like a band determined to prove they're nowhere near finished yet.
critic is an absolute standout and arguably the best song they've released so far. It's pure heavy hardcore and exactly the kind of opening statement an album like this demands. From the get go, it grabs listeners by the throat and refuses to let go. There's no messing around, no long introduction, just THROWN doing what they do best and hitting with everything they've got. The track already sounds like an absolute monster in a live setting. The energy, the aggression and the sheer weight of it make it feel built for a room full of people losing their minds. The prospect of hearing this live, with pits opening up and bodies flying everywhere, is enough to get any hardcore fan excited. If this is the standard THROWN are setting for the rest of UNWANTED, then something special is certainly in store.
What makes the album even better is that THROWN haven't simply tried to recreate what they've already done. type of way is a perfect example of a band staying true to themselves while still moving forward. Within the first few seconds, that recognisable thrown sound is immediately present, and it's exactly what fans have come to expect. However, there's also a twist to the newer style they're bringing into UNWANTED, giving the track its own identity without losing what makes the band so good.
It's great to hear a band stick to their strengths without becoming stuck in the past. There's always a risk that a group finds a formula that works and ends up repeating it until it loses its impact. Thankfully, THROWN avoids that feeling here. They understand exactly what their listeners come to them for, but they're still finding ways to develop their sound. That balance is a big part of what makes this record such a satisfying listen.
Then there's off, which brings another element into the mix. The eerie backing track gives the song a different atmosphere, and it works brilliantly in making the vocals stand out. Rather than taking away from the heaviness, that unsettling backdrop makes everything hit harder. It gives the track another layer, allowing the aggression to feel even more pronounced. It's a great reminder that heaviness isn't always about throwing everything at the listener at once sometimes, what sits behind the violence makes it hit even harder.
Across UNWANTED, that feeling of increased intensity is what really sticks out. The album sounds more brutal, more aggressive and more unapologetic, yet it still feels unmistakably thrown. That's no small achievement for a band who have already established such a recognisable identity in such a short space of time. UNWANTED represents the best work thrown have put out so far. It takes the sound they've built their name on and pushes it somewhere even heavier, while showing that there's still room for new ideas and different approaches. Nothing about this feels like a band content to coast on past success.
They weren't messing around when they made it clear they wanted to be the heaviest band in the world. With UNWANTED, they're making a pretty convincing case for themselves. If this is where they're heading next, the future looks incredibly promising. Until then, these tracks are destined to cause absolute chaos when played live, preferably somewhere near the front of a very chaotic pit.
Score: 9/10
UNWANTED will be released on 6th November 2026 via Arising Empire.
Words: Jack Norris
Photos: thrown
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