The 2010s saw quite the thrash metal resurgence. The first half of the decade was dominated by party kings Municipal Waste and an entire crop of MW worship bands (Tropical Storm!, Smash Potater, Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre, etc.). The second half belonged to Power Trip. Unlike the first half’s bands, Power Trip’s aggressive style of thrash drew more from the 80s New York hardcore scene. Lyrically, frontman Riley Gale was more concerned with the gross injustices of the world than chugging beer through a funnel. And just as a slew of bands followed in MW’s footsteps, the same happened for PT (High Command, Primal Rite, Mindforce, etc.). Now we’re a couple months into the second year of the 2020s. Municipal Waste has grown quite irrelevant (at least in comparison to a decade ago) and Power Trip may very well have ended with the untimely passing of Riley Gale. Who will carry the thrash metal torch into the new decade? I think I’ve found just the band.
Enforced aren’t brand spanking new. They’re one of the bands who formed out of the Power Trip boom. In 5 short years, they’ve made quite a name for themselves. They’ve released a couple demos, an album, and hopped onto some pretty high profile tours. I saw them opening for Iron Reagan, Sacred Reich, and Leeway, and was rather impressed by their dark, thick as concrete brand of thrash metal. Hard work has paid off for this Richmond based quintet as they’ve released their latest album, Kill Grid, on mega label Century Media.
Kill Grid takes the ethos laid down by their debut, At the Walls, and cathartic live shows, and turns the intensity up to 11. It may be easy for some to dismiss this album as a cheap rehash of classic Slayer, but I want you to stop and ask yourself something. When was the last time you heard an album that captures the unrelenting energy and savage power of Hell Awaits, Reign in Blood, and South of Heaven? There’s no shortage of classic thrash and death metal albums that come to mind, but I’m talking in recent years. I can’t think of any other band or album who has conjured such slatanic spirit since Araya, King, Hanneman, and Lombardo themselves. Cuts like “The Doctrine”, “Malignance”, and “Blood Ribbon” wouldn’t sound out of place on any of the Slayer albums I just listed. The riffs are brutally breakneck, but not for the sake of just being fast. Guitarists Will Wagstaff and Zach Monahan know how to make their riffs stand out, even going as far as showing off with some fancy fretwork in the solo to “Curtain Fire”.
Now while Slayer stands strong in Enforced’s musical DNA, they aren’t the only influence on display. Though not as blatant as compadres Power Trip, there is an underlying hardcore influence as well. The 6+ minute title track is a clinic in knuckle dragging hardcore chug riffs. It’s as if some band attempted 90s metalcore through a Slayer filter. Perhaps Merauder? “Beneath Me” also displays hardcore influence, as does the punky mosh mania of “Curtain Fire”. Maybe it’s just the production, but the riffs and rhythms seem to carry a devastating groove throughout the entire album à la Demolition Hammer and Arise era Sepultura. Rounding it all out are the ferocious growls of Knox Colby. Between his vocal delivery and some of these riffs, there are times that Kill Grid nearly borders old school death metal territory. I’m sure this is no coincidence.
Enforced is no one trick pony. Their dynamic approach to a nearly 40 year old genre is on full display on Kill Grid. I strongly believe that they and only they will be the band to lead a legion of high top, denim vest clad thrashers into the 2020s. It’ll only be a matter of time before I start reviewing Enforced clones. When I do, I’ll link this review and stand vindicated.
8 out of 10
Label: Century Media Records
Genre: Crossover Thrash
For fans of: Slayer, Power Trip, Demolition Hammer