Ellefson-Soto – ‘Unbreakable’ (2025) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

The debut Ellefson-Soto album was released back on October 7, 2022 and only 6 months later, David Ellefson and guitarist Andy Martongelli wasted no time in starting to write the next album. Starting April 2023, work began on the songwriting and over the next year and half the two would collaborate with Jeff Scott Soto on what would become the second Ellefson-Soto album called ‘Unbreakable’. Funny enough, it all started with a cover song. David suggest they cover and a Queen song and David knowing Jeff’s obsessive love of Queen, knew this would draw him back in. That cover was of “Death On Two Legs”. Then it was off to the races and squeezing things in when they could as these guys are always extremely busy. The band recorded the album at Rogue Studios in Wembley, UK by Alessio Garavello and produced by Chris Collier.

The band brings the veterans together with former Megadeth bassist and Grammy winner, David Ellefson and journeyman powerhouse vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto joining forces yet again to deliver something unique for the guys. Throw in the young guns of guitarist Andy Martongelli from Arthemis and drummer Paolo Caridi of Hollow Haze, The Bad Guy Experiment, and Cosmic Dead Ringers and the two dynamics merge to form a modern rock band that throws everything at you from thrash, to power metal, to even a little punk while still bring a heavy modern sound that takes this album to the next level.

The sound of this album is just as heavy as the first with a real modern rock sound. The band feels like they are way more comfortable with each other and they have developed their own sound and style and this whole album feels right. It feels collaborative as you can hear and feel all the elements that each member brings to the table. They also brought in a little help as well as we get not one, but two duets on the album. One with the great Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest) and another with the amazing Laura Guldemond (Burning Witches). It is not that Jeff can’t handle the vocals all by himself because we know he can, but It is a chance to spread their wings and show what this band is capable of doing while keeping things fresh for the listener.

The album was released on August 15, 2025 and there were many options to buy. The collection I bought was the CD Bundle with a CD sleeve that was autographed by Jeff Scott Soto and David Ellefson and included a 4×4 card of the two, an Ellefson-Soto sticker, guitar pick and even a Trading Card set that includes all four band members. Rat Pak Records is their label and they even threw in a Rat Pak Records sticker. It is a great set and was priced right at only around $24. There was the bigger bundle with Vinyl and Cassette included, but since my entire Soto collection is CD, that is why I chose what I did.

The album opens with the title track, “Unbreakable” and it is relentless. An assault to the senses while still being melodic at the same time thanks to the vocals of Jeff Scott Soto. The song sets up the album and lets you know what is in store for the rest of the album. The song speaks to not taking crap from anyone, standing up and fighting for yourself. The song isn’t just about Jeff, it is about everyone in the band and everyone in general as it says “We are Unbreakable” and that feeling that this is a “we” statement and not an “I” statement brings you the listener in to the realm of the song.

Things get turned up a notch with “SOAB” or more simply, Son of a Bitch!! The song is brutal and ready to rip your arms off and beat you with them. Could the song be about former bandmates for either Jeff or David? Who knows, but I do know the song is pure ass kicking good. The guitar solo is ripping, the drums are so powerful. Jeff attacks the lyrics with a frenzied style, spitting out the lyrics with aggression. One of the best and coolest songs on the album.

“Shout” is another powerhouse. A little more melodic and less aggression, but still heavy and rather catchy as well. The guitar solo is even better than the last song. Jeff even has a few screams to add that are killer.

Then comes “Hate You, Hate Me” and be prepared to be pummeled. Jeff goes down and dirty with the vocals and that scream he makes before the solo, awesome. The bass work from Ellefson is simply killer and shows why he is so renowned. The band sounds like they are ready to fight and rip you a new one. When actually the lyrics are more about why do we need to hate, let it go and take a breath.

Now we get a song that is more what you’d expect from Jeff’s world…melodic and catchy. “Poison Tears” is also a duet with Laura Guldemond of Burning Witches and she adds so much flavor to this song. The chorus is huge like any good melodic rock song should be. I love Laura’s grit in her vocals, such a great metal singer in her own right. These two together bring us the song we didn’t know we needed.

Next up is the instrumental “Ghosts”. This started off as a practice riff that Andy does to warm up. David heard him playing it and said that is going on the album. The song starts off with a little flamenco style guitar work and then we get that riff that you can actually sing along to which I think always makes a riff great. Andy, Paolo and David really outdo themselves with this one. It has a great melody in that riff and it feels like a song not just an instrumental showboat.

The next duet is Jeff with Tim “Ripper” Owens formerly of Judas Priest. The song is another relentless barrage of pain. “Vengeance” sees Jeff take on a new menacing personae matching the evilness of Tim. Some great back and forth between the two. Musically, the song is as thrash as these guys are going to get. The drum work is insane as Paolo destroys his set with the barrage of drum fills over and over again. Pure destruction with this one.

They completely change things up with the metal, punk anthem with “Snakes & Bastards”. This homage to Motorhead gives you all the angst and power that you got from Motorhead. It is a speedy, energized and electric track. One of the most fun songs on the album. Totally killer…get in-get out type of track. An adrenaline filled showcase of a song. I think you get the point.

“It’s Over (When I Say It’s Over)” is another track that could be about their former bosses, but at the same time could be about a relationship. And Jeff has said this has a third meaning as it is also about standing up for yourself and saying nothing is over until you say it is no matter what it is. You are your own boss. More stellar bass work from David and Andy gives another wicked solo.

The last track on the album if you were streaming this is “The Day We Built Rome”. Another modern rock track, with a huge chorus. Less metal then the rest of the album, but more in Jeff’s wheelhouse. A great hook in the chorus and another nasty guitar solo that leaves you wanting more. Not as flashy as the rest of the album, but still worth your time.

The CD has a track that you can’t get streaming and it is the song that started it all for this album. It is the Queen cover of “Death On Two Legs”. Jeff is a huge, and I mean huge Queen fan so you know they are going to do this right. They stay true to the song only turning it in to a more metal version of the song. Jeff even went overboard on the backing vocals as he added about 20 layers of his vocals doing the backing parts. Heck, Queen loved their backing vocals so it makes sense. The song feels as big as if it was Queen and you can feel their passion for Queen. A great cover.

Track Listing:

1. Unbreakable – Keeper
2. SOAB – Keeper
3. Shout – Keeper
4. Hate You, Hate Me – Keeper
5. Poison Tears (Feat. Laura Guldemond) – Keeper
6. Ghosts – Keeper
7. Vengeance (Feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens) – Keeper
8. Snakes & Bastards – Keeper
9. It’s Over (When I Say It’s Over) – Keeper
10. The Day We Built Rome – Keeper (1/2 Point)
11. Death On Two Legs (Queen Cover) – Keeper

The Track Score is 10.5 out of 11 Tracks or 95%.  As much as I liked the first album, this one far exceeded any and all expectations. This might be some of my favorite work from Jeff in years (except for W.E.T.). Some of his heavier stuff in the past has only been okay while this stuff is sensational.  The band brings in the best of each member and it shows.  The heaviest stuff and fastest stuff seems to be the best for me here.  “SOAB” and “Snakes & Bastards” are two of my favorites on the album.  The duets were great, the instrumental was awesome as well.  They really had no missteps with this one in my book.  It is solid from beginning to end.  My Overall Score is a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars.  If the sophomore release is so much better than the debut, where can this band go…I’d like to find out so bring us more Jeff and David!! We need it in our life!

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Talisman – ‘Besterious’ (1996)
30. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
31. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
32. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
33. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
34. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
35. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
36. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
37. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
39. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
40. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
41. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
42. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
45. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
46. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
47. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
48. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
49. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
50. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
51. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
52. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
53. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
54. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
57. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
58. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
59. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
60. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
62. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
63. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
64. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
65. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
66. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
67. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
68. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
69. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
70. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
71. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
72. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
73. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
74. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
75. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
76. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
77. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
78. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
79. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
81. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
82. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
83. Ellefson-Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underworld’ (2022)
84. Slam – Slam (2023)
85. Art of Anarchy – ‘Let There Be Anarchy’ (2024)
86. D’Luna – ‘Monster’ (2024)
87. W.E.T. – ‘Apex’ (2025)
88. Ellefson-Soto – ‘Unbreakable’ (2025)
89. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
90. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
91. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition