Friday 1 November 2013

Enabler - Flies EP (Review)




Album Type : EP
Date Released : 1/10/2013
Label : The Compound / Earsplit Distro

FLIES, track listing :
1. Switch
2. Flies
3. Meaningless Life
4. Sickened By The Wake
5. Sleep Forever
6. Arise (Sepultura)

The Band :
Jeff Lohrber | Vocals, Guitar, Drums (tracks 1 & 2)
Amanda Daniels | Bass Guitar
Eric Dunn | Lead Guitar
Chris Zugschwert | Drums

Review :
I really enjoyed the last Enabler release, the crazy-good 'Shift of Redemption'. It came at just the right time for me as I was revelling in some great hardcore releases from the past twelve months, of which it wind milled its way considerably to the front row of, and into my heart.
How I managed to make that twee, I'll never fully know.
And so I greet their new EP with open ears and the need to slam, another call to arms that goes by the name of 'Flies'. Opening track 'Switch' is totally addictive, with its hooky lead riff and its thumping low end moments. Entirely instrumental by construction, it serves to whet the appetite just enough to warm you up for what is to come. I'm not over-stuffed, I'm just right.
The track that shares its name with the EP follows in due course and crashes like an extinction level hardcore asteroid. Just what you both want and expect from Enabler. Just over a minute and a half of thrashing HXC goodness, peppered with the odd DM feature riff. Impossible to not rage to, or be moved by.
Same goes for 'Meaningless Life'. Just brutal, vital, fantastic hardcore. Full of bouncing beats and rage-channelled guitars. Not preaching, more like grabbing you by the throat to plead. The breakdown at the end could nullify gravity. Probably.
'Arise' is so fucking heavy it hurts when played loud enough. You should cover the floor with cushions before listening, in preparation for the moment when it might physically knock you on your ass. Soloing in HXC is a no-go 99% of the time, but nothing is simple about Enabler. The rulebook is torn in half in the waste basket. Which is now on fire.
Another great bit of output from Enabler. This piecemeal approach to releasing stuff is great, keeping things short, sweet and satisfying. It works at least for them, and very well indeed. If they continue in this fashion then I cannot see a point in time when I won't get excited for new offerings from this band. And at the end of the day, if Hardcore doesn't excite you, then it ain't being done right is it?

Enabler are continuing to do things right.
Words by : Matt Fitton
You can buy it here




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