Enforced : "A Leap into the Dark"

The last time I reviewed this band, they got an 8, as their brand of thrash seemed more like something I would have been into as a teenager. Their new EP finds them taking a more deliberate groove-oriented approach that works better for me. They are leaning more into the hard-core side of their influences, though a song like the title track is still very metal, drawing a more Slayer-like influence. Produced by Arthur Rizk, who handled Power Trip, they made a wise choice as the guitar sound is sharp like it came off an Anthrax album. 

They resist the urge to just pour on the spend and give the songs room to breathe, where the head-banging is earned. And bang ye shall. They do not unleash their fetish for speed until "Deafening Heartbeats". At one point it sounds almost like "War Ensemble." The high-speed "Casket' thrashes with rabid authority. Though they are almost more of a hard-core cross-over band here. The drumming gets stiff when they press on the gas.

 They cover Obituary's "Deadly Intentions" They do a decent enough job with this one the vocals come pretty close. Their cover of the English Dogs' " The Chase is On Feels' more authentic than the Obituary cover, as it is more of who they are as a band. I'll give this an 8.5, it's a step in the right direction for them they should stick with this producer. 

pst624