‘But I’m no fool. I’m still so afraid of you’.
It’s time, my friends. to grab the bull by the horns, our American cousins Enterprise Earth return with their fifth album to proclaim that death awaits us all. They dig a little deeper and use death as the central idea that is present in everything we do.
The record is buttressed substantially by an esteemed selection of featured artists, Matt Heafy, Darius Tehrani and Ben Duerr to name a few, all applying their considerable weight behind this production causing the floor to crack open and drop you into the ‘Abyss’ below.
Running with the fusion baton, we have the eerily operatic opening to ‘Spineless’ a foretelling of sorts with the words ‘every legend dies a fucking fraud’ now this is something that we see in real life. Many celebrities have had their lies exposed, their innermost feelings on display, and the public is left feeling extremely disappointed with what they discover.
The first line in ‘King Of Ruination’ gives us the ‘once upon a time’ of Death metal, the ungodly lyrics ‘suffer in your bastardised assimilation’ and off we trot on another bender, gripping and stripping you of your faculties before you can say fermented offal discharge.
Take my rotting hand and let us lay down in this ‘Casket of Rust’ with Valentines Day almost upon us, what better way to celebrate. Enterprise Earth are earnest in their plight ‘my love, where did I go wrong’ come on ladies form an orderly queue behind me please.
The album is interspersed with twinkly bits, for example the introduction on ‘I Divine’ creating an intriguing and suspenseful environment. The riffs here remind me of Necrophagist, maybe it’s because of their cover version on the Foundation of Bones EP, there is every possibility that you will die happy after this.
The villainous introduction of ‘Malevolent Force’ sets your teeth on edge, I am actually waiting for Mrs Baylock from The Omen to appear at any minute, it’s that dastardly.
Trying their hand at a softer touch, in ‘Blood and Teeth’ you will find that the words and melody that form the lines ‘a knife soaked in honey so I can’t taste the blood. You carved into my teeth, the symbols of your love’ are enough to make any hardened emo weep into the next century. The musical prowess here is palpable, your heart beats, you get butterflies in your stomach, you fall in love just as the grim reaper waits to strike in his inimitable deadly fashion.
There is a unnerving comfort in the words ‘there is no place for the wicked to die’ as the band turn over every stone, walk down every avenue and charter every territory to bring you this master stroke in death metal.
Whilst you ponder your inevitable demise, I’ll whisper sweet nothings in your ear, heathen…heathen…heathen……heathen….
Azra Pathan
Enterprise Earth – Death – An Anthology out now via MNRK Heavy.