Photo Credit: Chris Klumpp
The past couple of years has seen the resurgence of deathcore, with bands such as Lorna Shore, Slaughter to Prevail and Brand of Sacrifice becoming the new torchbearers for the genre. It’s easy to forget that certain acts have been there through the tough times, holding things down for the polarising style. One such band is Enterprise Earth. The band have been shouldering the weight of carrying a waning scene with little to know recognition for the sterling job they have been doing, and the superb releases that have held things together whilst they wait for their peers to catch up.
Now in 2022, with deathcore seemingly on the rise again, it is up to Enterprise Earth to stake their claim as leaders of the pack and with their latest release The Chosen, and it looks as though they are equipped to do just that.
Now, if you’re not familiar with Enterprise Earth, simply skip forward to thirty seconds into Where Dreams Are Broken and things will soon become very clear. The moment the atmospheric introduction ends we get a high-pitched scream from frontman Dan Watson that clocks in at over ten seconds, soaring over the top of the frantic drums and tremolo guitar riffs. This is mosh-pit ammo in its most devastating form and it’s likely that venues all over the world will descend into chaos when the world gets back to business as usual (if it ever does). This whole song is a statement of intent, with the polished production and clinical mix ensuring that everything sounds as punishing and distinguishable as possible. In short, everything gets its chance to shine.
Perhaps one of the biggest highlights on this album is Reanimate // Disintegrate, an opus that clocks in at over six minutes in duration and shows a different side to the band than we have seen before. The style shows them leaning more towards a bouncy, progressive style of songwriting, more in keeping with bands such as ERRA and Heart Of A Coward, with its pummelling low-end and off-kilter rhythmic patterns.
Enterprise Earth have found a new level of confidence and deliver everything on this release with a swagger. Take I Have to To Escape as an example. Where once there were endless chugs and breakdowns, there are now grooves and a melodic flair that would have been completely out of place on their previous releases. However, now it somehow feel seamless.
They Have No Honor is a track that really shows the capability of the guitarists. The mind-bending, intertwining riffs sound like they could come straight out of technical death metal album, without derailing the flow of the track in any way. Also, it is worth mentioning that at the midway point of the song we get a tempo change and galloping riff, that sounds as though it came from the right hand of Metallica’s own James Hetfield. This is a great, fun thrash section that once again shows the broad range of influences that Enterprise Earth draw from.
Album closer Legends Never Die sees the band take a more blackened route with things. The symphonic elements are added tastefully to the song and make things feel as thought they are on a much grander scale. The backing vocals add texture and melody underneath the demonic vocals from Watson, without watering down the brutality.
The fact that Enterprise Earth can write a slamming deathcore tune is going to be news to nobody. However, now they have found a way to successfully include melodic and even catchy moments in their songs without alienating their existing fans. This album may not be career defining, but it is a brand new dawn for a band that have so much to offer, making it simply impossible for people to sleep on them any longer.
8/10
Standout Tracks: They Have No Honour, The Failsafe Fallacy
For Fans Of: Osiah, Signs Of The Swarm, Lorna Shore
Written by: Richard Webb
