Enforcer - Zenith (Nuclear Blast)
This is perhaps the most controversial pick for our list, as it was lauded by fans of the band for "selling out" and for "hitting rock bottom". However, to our humble opinion neither could be further from the truth; it simply is a statement from the band that they want to diversify and change into a different kind of monster. Not better or worse, simply...different.
To better explain what occurred here, a track by track mini-dissection of the record is warranted; "Die for the Devil" is an AOR anthem type of song, featuring callbacks to Motley Cure and Def Leppard. "Zenith of the black sun" is a slower heavy metal track, which is not too removed from similar work of the band in the past. "Searching for you" is more or less what fans were expecting and they are getting that too here, albeit in smaller doses. "Regrets" is a power ballad, another experiment of the band, the reason most people attacked the record and well, truth be told it is a weak composition. "The End of the Universe" is where things start to come into focus; a epic anthem with a bass line eerie reminiscent of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", followed by the slightly cheesy but enjoyable "Sail On". "One Thousand Years of Darkness" is an AOR/neoclassical blend from an alternate timeline of one of the early Malmsteen releases (probably released a little time after Trilogy). "Thunder and Hell" goes full speed-metal mode, galloping through the mosh-pits of the world. Forever We Worship the Dark emanates a somewhat brooding mood, mixing equal parts of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest into a melancholic heavy metal song that paves the way for "Ode to Death" with the grandiose intro, the galloping riff, the screams of Eric Adams, even the proper solos in guitars and bass to qualify as an honorary Manowar release!
In conclusion, the album is a pastiche of a multitude of very different aspects of metal and rock music into a record that is way more than a sum of its parts and if given the opportunity, will appeal to heavy metal fans around the world. On my end, I can't wait to see the band every time I spin "Zenith" and I think that is saying something.
94.7/100
Below are the music videos for "Die for the Devil" and "Regrets".
To better explain what occurred here, a track by track mini-dissection of the record is warranted; "Die for the Devil" is an AOR anthem type of song, featuring callbacks to Motley Cure and Def Leppard. "Zenith of the black sun" is a slower heavy metal track, which is not too removed from similar work of the band in the past. "Searching for you" is more or less what fans were expecting and they are getting that too here, albeit in smaller doses. "Regrets" is a power ballad, another experiment of the band, the reason most people attacked the record and well, truth be told it is a weak composition. "The End of the Universe" is where things start to come into focus; a epic anthem with a bass line eerie reminiscent of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", followed by the slightly cheesy but enjoyable "Sail On". "One Thousand Years of Darkness" is an AOR/neoclassical blend from an alternate timeline of one of the early Malmsteen releases (probably released a little time after Trilogy). "Thunder and Hell" goes full speed-metal mode, galloping through the mosh-pits of the world. Forever We Worship the Dark emanates a somewhat brooding mood, mixing equal parts of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest into a melancholic heavy metal song that paves the way for "Ode to Death" with the grandiose intro, the galloping riff, the screams of Eric Adams, even the proper solos in guitars and bass to qualify as an honorary Manowar release!
In conclusion, the album is a pastiche of a multitude of very different aspects of metal and rock music into a record that is way more than a sum of its parts and if given the opportunity, will appeal to heavy metal fans around the world. On my end, I can't wait to see the band every time I spin "Zenith" and I think that is saying something.
94.7/100
Below are the music videos for "Die for the Devil" and "Regrets".
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