Brian Hunsaker’s ‘Haunted’ is a thunderous duel between shadows and steel

Texas shredder and metal torchbearer Brian Hunsaker has kicked down the gates with ‘Haunted’, a blistering return to form that doubles as a masterclass in guitar virtuosity. The track is a towering fusion of precision riffcraft, melodic heft, and theatrical intensity, built for fans of Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and Dio, but sharp enough to stake its own place among modern heavyweights.

From the first few seconds, ‘Haunted’ sets its sights on the jugular. The guitar work is unrelenting, with rapid-fire chugs, searing leads, and harmonised licks that feel engineered in a war lab. Hunsaker’s fretboard command is immediate and unmistakable, drawing on decades of influence from the greats, but pushing the technical boundaries with a clean, modern attack. His solos cut with surgical phrasing that nods to Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen, but never veers into empty showmanship.

Cinematic flourishes, orchestral layering, and a pounding rhythm section elevate the track beyond the typical shred anthem. The production, handled by Matt Dougherty (known for work with Megadeth and Disturbed), injects every note with sonic heft, ensuring that even the most delicate harmonics land like grenades.

Vocally, Hunsaker steps up with an impassioned performance that leans into the genre’s theatrical legacy. Channelling the operatic power of Bruce Dickinson with the grit of David Draiman, he belts lines about unseen torment and spiritual warfare with conviction, crafting a narrative that mirrors the tension in the music. A cry against fate, carried on the back of crushing double kicks and labyrinthine riff structures.

It’s not just a return to vocal-led metal, but a declaration that technical metal doesn’t have to sacrifice emotion or atmosphere.