Swedish metal band Enforcer has long been
hailed as one of the best traditional heavy metal/speed metal groups of the
past decade, and rightfully so. There’s no denying “Diamonds” is one of the
most impressive records in recent years, and though I was a bit let down by the
still solid follow-up, “Death By Fire”, the band’s fourth record, “From
Beyond”, shows them re-ascending to the heights of speed metal supremacy. Stylistically,
it doesn’t differ from the band’s formula to this point: charged-up NWOBHM
riffs, melodic vocals that have an edge to them, great guitar solos and loud
bass. With that said, the band does add just enough to their sound on “From
Beyond” to keep things interesting. The best example of the band’s exploration
is the title track. This song gives of a huge Cauldron vibe, partially because
of the galloping verses, but also because it has a hypnotic and mesmerizing
chorus. It doesn’t feel as upbeat as the rest of the album, but it adds a more
mysterious feel to the record.
Beyond the title track, the rest of the
album is filled with future classics. “Undying Evil” is the obvious winner upon
first listen. It is one of the best examples of the bands riff-writing
abilities, especially some of the post-chorus riffs that make use of chords
with different intervals from a standard power chord, which adds just a little
bit more dissonance. “Destroyer” is the album’s opener, and it’s just as
fast-paced and brutal as you would expect Enforcer to get. As the album goes
on, the band continues to find ways to pull out classic riffs. The best example
comes in “Hell Will Follow”. You’ll know it when you hear it (when the band slows down a bit on this song), as it’s one of
those riffs that is so 80s that you can’t help but smile and bang your head
when you hear it. It’s almost as if Diamond Head or Angel Witch took over the
writing. Similarly, "The Banshee" opens with some serious Mercyful Fate worship before morphing into a more unique and catchy tune.
“From Beyond” is also interesting because
it shows vocalist Olof Wilkstrand getting a bit more adventurous in his
approach. He’s always been a good singer, but songs like “Below The Slumber”
and the aforementioned title track offer him opportunities to try new sounds.
Surprisingly, he actually takes a bit of a rougher tone at times, rather than
moving to an even cleaner sound. This is another great example of how Enforcer
is advancing their sound through small steps rather than making drastic changes
to the band. Ultimately, “From Beyond” approaches the greatness that was
captured on “Diamonds”. While it isn’t quite as strong, it is definitely a step
up from “Death By Fire”.
Highlights
"Undying Evil"
"From Beyond"
"The Banshee"
Final Rating
4.5/5 or 90%.
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