Momentum matters in an industry flooded with new weekly releases seemingly from every corner of the globe. Hot off the heels from last year’s third album War Remains, Virginia crossover thrash act Enforced issues a quick hitting EP with A Leap Into the Dark. Listeners will enjoy three brand new originals next to three b-sides that include a remastered version of “Casket” originally issued via Decibel magazine as a 7” flexi-single in 2021 plus covers from English Dogs and Obituary that showcase the varied influences at play for the group.
Chugging heads down riffs barrel over the naysayers right away as “Betting on the End” features the hardcore caustic bark of Knox Colby while the dual guitar assault of Zach Monahan and Will Wagstaff zigzags between Bay Area stomp and East Coast pummeling aesthetics. The title track next serves up some tasty stop/ start action a la classic Slayer, the steady double kick nuances sure to elevate adrenaline as the swirling rhythms cause rage-fueled emotions to quickly subside, the gallop nature to the arrangement sure to appease all headbangers. The fastest of the new trio of tracks “Deafening Heartbeats” circles a bit more Kreator-ish meets Swedish death metal atmosphere, especially in terms of the speedier vocal melodies matching the tremolo picking and fleet snare to fill activities to make this a spotlight song to these ears, a sophisticated lead break transforming into this ultimate pit-moving riff that’s undeniable in execution.
The primal side of the group comes out on the second half of this release – “Casket” a whirlwind effort that puts early Metallica against Nuclear Assault in under two minutes as the guitars, bass, and drums battle to the death, while “Deadly Intentions” from the debut Obituary album Slowly We Rot contains those sick, drawn out growls as well as doom to semi-thrash passages that are unmistakable from the Florida death pioneers. Crossover UK legends English Dogs also gain reverence on “The Chase Is On”, a track originally hitting the streets in 1984 but still sounding fierce yet bold forty years later. 19 minutes later, most will be picking themselves off the floor, drenched in sweat as they pop bones back into place – a proper crossover thrash experience taken to an audience clamoring to latch onto fresh takes on this sound for the youth as well as the older guard.
As Enforced prepare for their next European tour assault, A Leap Into the Dark gives the fans a glimpse into what charges up this quintet – as well as where they will be heading on subsequent efforts.