Enforcer: From Beyond

Sweden’s trad ragers show their (stained) class

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Enforcer sound like they’ve been plucked out of the 80s and thrust upon the 21st century, so convincing is their paean to speed metal’s heyday.

Fast-as-fuck playing, high-pitched vocals and technically tight soloing is the order of the day and is executed like a white-knuckle ride, but this fourth offering throws up moments that pinpoint these Swedes’ maturation from reckless party animals to experienced songwriters.

Take a listen to the neo-classical strumming of Undying Evil and Hungry They Will Come, pushing the otherwise predictable early Metallica riffs down a less obvious path, and with the titular From Beyond Enforcer have crafted one of the best choruses of their career.

Even at their most tried-and-tested, on the furious Hell Will Follow or opening bruiser Destroyer, they smash every note and channel influences from eastern European acts like Credo and Magnit to Mercyful Fate, Angel Witch and Scorpions, always keeping it unabashedly, indulgently and authentically 80s – and trademarking Enforcer as exemplary champions of the New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal./o:p

Holly Wright

With over 10 years’ experience writing for Metal Hammer and Prog, Holly has reviewed and interviewed a wealth of progressively-inclined noise mongers from around the world. A fearless voyager to the far sides of metal Holly loves nothing more than to check out London’s gig scene, from power to folk and a lot in between. When she’s not rocking out Holly enjoys being a mum to her daughter Violet and working as a high-flying marketer in the Big Smoke.