The current thrash metal revival is causing the market to be flooded with soundalike bands, but The Haunted have been at this for more than a decade and have established their own sound. Versus has plenty of thrash elements, but there are many more influences at work.
Modern metal, hardcore and death are incorporated into the songs on Versus. Galloping thrash, groovy death metal and pummeling hardcore all rear their heads. There's a lot of variety and diversity, but also a fair amount of filler.
The Haunted is at their strongest with songs that are mid-tempo to fast and intense. There are a few tracks on this album that have slow, dirgy parts with Peter Dolving crooning in a gothic style. Those are snooze inducers.
Speaking of Dolving, his vocals range from thrash metal growls to hardcore yells to spoken word to singing to the aforementioned melodic crooning. He's an excellent performer, there are some very strong and memorable songs on Versus, but there are also a few that fall flat.
(released October 14, 2008 on Century Media Records)
