Review by JD on September 5, 2011.

It is always a bummer when you hear a CD and then find out that the band you had been listening to has already called it quits. That disappointment doubles when you find out that this band was damned good. That is the situation I find myself in when I had finished listening to Chicago’s Enforsaken.

This marauding five piece plays some incredibly written Thrash and Punk coloured Melodic Death Metal. Sort of like if D.R.I. and GraVil mixed styles into one balled and barbwire wrapped fist. Enforsaken plays very strong and absolutely unrelenting music that instantly commands while having a whole lot of melody to drive it all home despite having a rather bland production on the CD.

In listening to the album, it becomes clear that this band had a whole lot of talent wrapped up in the flag of metal. 'The Slain' is a short, but extremely nasty song that flows like water off of a mountain yet has the power of Nitroglycerin that overwhelms your soul not to mention the riff power of 'Enemy Angel' goes twelve rounds with your skull - and you'll love every punch Enforsaken lands.

This band broke up in 2006, and I gotta say that is not good for the metal world. A band as good like this is sorrowfully missed in the metal scene. They had a chemistry that most bands dream of, and never quite get. I am going to do some research and see if the members are still out there thrashing - if not, it will be just another sad endpoint to the band. They were great, and it is good that their music lives on.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.5 out of 10