Enforced - War Remains (2023)^{Release ID: 44314}

Two years after Kill Grid and Enforced lavished 2023 with another thirty three minutes of chopping and chugging thrash metal that picked up exactly where the aforementioned release left off.  The frenetic pacing and no nonsense approach to the delivery of the ten songs on show again take me on that nostalgic trip to a handful of classic thrashers as mentioned on my review of Kill Grid.  But there is a lot more to Enforced than just nostalgia.  Enforced are effortlessly keeping up with the cream of the modern thrash metal pack with each release they put out.  Standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of High Command and Judiciary, the band churn out some of the finest punk-influenced crossover in the business.  Equally as energetic as early Slayer and Exodus I can see Gary Holt being at home in the ranks of Enforced should such a collaboration ever occur.

Their energy levels here match Drain on their opus from this year but there is a more down and dirty element to Enforced that carries the aura of an Iron Reagan or even a Cro-Mags.  Enforced are a fun band talking about serious topics.  Revelling in highlighting the hypocrisy inherant in politics, religion and war, they blaze a bruising and scarring commentary on War Remains.  It is a state of the world address without the bullshit, minus the glitter and with the turd firmly centre stage with all eyes forced toward it.  This disdain exudes forth from War Remains in every gruff chant, every scathing riff and every predatory drum strike.

Three albums in and Enforced can still do no qrong in my eyes and continue to improve on each outing without having to make any major changes or introduce any curved balls in terms of direction or influence.  No frills thrash metal with a powerful message behind it that should resonate with anyone with a shred of interest in world affairs and as we rollover into 2024 the thems in discussion on War Remains feel ever so relevant.  

The new Enforced album is a thrash metal assault that does not beat around the bush. It gives you everything it has in a brisk runtime and credit where it is due, a lot of these tracks are pretty strong performances all around.

Granted this is thrash metal so the compositions do not have to be incredibly dense or conceptual. What makes this record stand out among the rest however is how well it blends the lines between old-school and new-school thrash.

The riffing on this record certainly has a few points, such as "Hanged by My Hand", " Nation of Fear" and "Empire" having riffs that sound borrowed right out of the Slayer playbook. But the lyrical performances are closer to that of Havok or Power Trip, instead of the "word vomit" style that Tom Araya popularized during the 1980s. And, like with Power Trip and Critical Defiance, War Remains is as direct with its listener as any; since tunes do not run overtime and go for a more progressive style of songwriting, the simplicity does not have time to become boring.

There are still problems however; the lack of a prominent bass line and instead opting for doubling guitars is a letdown, and the lack of sonic variety between the tracks can lead to some (not a lot though) of fatigue. War Remains is still a great modern thrash metal album and worthy of some sporadic neck pain.

Best Songs: The Quickening, Hanged by My Hand, War Remains, Mercy Killing Fields, Ultra-Violence, Starve