Enforcer - From Beyond (2015)

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Enforcer - From Beyond (2015)

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Hailing from Arvika, Sweden, Enforcer play a brand of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal with an injection of punk; as if the last forty years of music haven't happened. Some may call it “old school”, but more cynical metal aficionados may even go as far as to call it devoid of any creativity or individual spark. From every pentatonic riff from the thrash lick library to the repetitive cycles of Hetfield-meets-Halford vocal wails, it becomes impossible to decipher just where Enforcer begin and the most influential of heavy metal's prodigies end. Founded in 2004, Enforcer describe themselves as being devotees of “real metal”. They've since gathered four albums under their belt, with their new album 'From Beyond' continuing down the path created by 2013's 'Death By Fire'. With the writing having began in March last year during a brief period of down-time from touring, the band only a short window of time to forge the content in 'From Beyond'; which perhaps casts understanding over the weak content littered across the album's performance. Enforcer have taken such major characteristics from other bands that they seem to have forgotten just what exactly they are offering to the table. The opening track “Destroyer” is a 'Kill 'Em All' era type thrash-out with the odd David Lee Roth vocal cliché chucked in every now and again for good measure. The next song, “Undying Evil” gives vocalist Olof Wikstrand an opportunity to demonstrate his high-register vocals, and is another perfect example of where this band falls so bitterly short. The ability of the band is obvious, but it feels like they're just joining the dots in the metal-by-numbers colouring book. “One With Fire” again follows the NWOBHM line, treading very thinly between original content and Iron Maiden's signature song. Enforcer seem to belong to a bracket of bands that had they pushed the boat out, even an inch would see their sails take to the wind. Sure, they may be able to perform during the day time at festivals to hoards of drunken metal heads, raising their pints to the old school. But the longevity and relevance of such an act is what is at question, especially when all the original purveyors of the scene have had to evolve or die out. With so much Maiden, Priest and Metallica cock-swinging in this album, Enforcer begin to contain all the hallmark traits of acts such as Steel Panther, just without the humour. However, it's not all bad. As the album continues to play, tracks such as “Hungry They Will Come” jump out and begin to show Enforcer's more creative side; a fully instrumental track that displays their riff-hungry approach and their lust for roaring leads. “The Banshee” again begins in a similar vein, evolving into a melodically-lead fist-pumper of a chorus. The final track of the album, “Mask Of Red Death”, is most likely the highlight of the album - emphatically driving, with a darker atmosphere than the first half of the album. The band’s influences have mixed themselves to deliver something more out of the ordinary than we have so far been accustomed to.

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