| CD REVIEW Enemo-J |
 |
|
Band : Enemo-J Since my introduction to Enemo-J (and don't you forget to pronounce it as “eeneemo-jay”!) thanks to the release of their 2006 debut full-length The Angels Will Return To Us through Casket Music/ Copro Records many positive (some of which I certainly regret having missed), but also less pleasurable things have happened to the Midlands based UK band (for the band's earlier history, and the reasons why I added 'm to my year-lists, check the review posted 18/07/2006). Following the positive reactions to The Angels... (including rave reviews in music industry important written magazines such as Kerrang!, Terrorizer, and Metal Hammer) the band took to a live promotion of the album, playing gigs all over the UK and highlighting it with a performance at 2007's Bloodstock Open Air festival. Capitalizing on their success, the band re-entered the studio with producer Matt Ellis (whom had also been there for the band's debut album – Ellis already had some fame recording with the likes of Number One Son, Grand Thefth Audio, and Rico, to name but a few) and recorded their sophomore album Live By Wish, Not By Hope, issued through Vision/ Phantom Sound in early 2008. A video for fan favorite song “Quail Boy” (featuring an introduction by famed Rappers Necro and Mr Hyde) was then released, getting airplay on Sky TV channels, as well as being hit over 40,000 times on the Internet. The song was also included in a Metal Hammer cover mount CD, and took the band to victory in an Unsigned Kerrang competition, leading 'em to play the first ever Skin Deep Tattoo Convention. The video went on to get moderate airplay on Red TV and Blank TV. But trouble lay ahead... Due to his illness, the band had to part ways with their long-time guitarist Bob, and the drummer was soon to follow. In the following months the band suffered hardship with several temporary replacements coming and going, but eventually the current line-up of singers Chris & Craig, bassist Bucky, guitarists Chris Broady & Roy, plus drummer Simon stabilized (meaning today only Craig and Bucky remain from the original line-up) in early 2009. With that line-up, the reformed band re-made their name on the UK live circuit, eventually securing high profile support slots with the Hed (P.E.) and Sylosis in early 2010, garnering rave reviews along the way. Positive reactions to a new demo got the band the extra push it needed to go for a new full-length...which we now have under our attention! And boy, what a great album! Because besides the versatile vocal side of the band (I hear they dropped that for a while, with just Craig singing) which sees the singers go through just about every vocal styling one can imagine (growls, barfed screams, grunts, clean singing, clean aggressive, and even some rapping), there's now also the added layered structure of the guitars (say, an added progressive touch there as well). Also, you get the couple of samples (is that Carl Sagan in the latter part of “Son Of Elohiem”? - the song which also has the rapped vocals, by the way – I'm sure I have no idea where the intro to “Leave Your Gods” was sampled from), and they made use of Katie Cairns of Born From Defiance to do the spoken word intro to the album opening “Our Final Day”. That, along with the album closing “Simon Peg Meets Enemo-J” (actually a short non-musical unlisted bonus) is the only material available from the new album (alongside ple,ty of stuff off the two other albums) at (www.) myspace.com/enemoj, but it is indeed a great example for the nice Progressive touch in the rest of the album. Of course, not all songs are as straight-forward heavy, for the band allows for some diversity by incorporating calmer passages in the album. I love these guys, I really do...in fact, I'm gonna try my best to add the band's second album to my personal collection! Meanwhile, I'm adding When Evolution Is Outlawed... (don't you feel that' is simply a gréat title too?) to my 2010 year-lists! 98/100 Tony. |