ENFORCER – Into The Night

The first things that come to mind when hearing the phrase “Swedish Metal” are the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal movement and the Sleaze Glam Metal outbreak. Heavy Metal in Sweden was strong during the 80s just like in the country’s neighbors. Today’s Heavy Metal in Sweden is presented in the face of bands such as Dream Evil and Hammerfall, who are more Power Metal but who draw their influence from acts like Accept so they can be categorized under the Heavy Metal helm.

Enforcer are more true Heavy Metal than all other Swedish Heavy Metal acts, they remind of the early years of Swedish Metal along with their strong roots of NWOBHM, especially from Maiden, early Mercyful Fate of Don’t Break The Oath era, old Speed Metal like early Exciter and a small dose of Old School Thrash. Surprisingly, there are also various early Mötley Crüe affiliations from their Too Fast For Love era. These Metal babies show some of today’s modern acts how Heavy Metal should be crafted.

Enforcer was founded by the Heavy Metal maniac, Olof “The Enforcer” Wikstrand, who plotted to bring back the Old School Heavy Metal back to Swedish hands. In 2005, a year after Enforcer was up and running, they unleashed their first demo, Evil Attacker, who will also feature in their late single release, Evil Attacker / Mistress Of Hell. This single release and the band’s appearance in 2007’s Speed Kills…Again has gotten the attention of their future label, Heavy Artillery, to snatch them off the streets and make them stars in their court. A year passed and Enforcer released its debut bone to the Metal world, Into The Night, which makes all the dreams of an Old School fan come true. Now go back to the Number Of The Beast or Don’t Break The Oath or Too Fast For Love, give them some Speed Metal and you have yourself an enjoyable Enforcer album.

Into The Night is a very creative Heavy Metal album although its music isn’t so genuine, it still blows away with songs of a great era once lost. The music is very energetic, most of the time with a fast measure of speed, but it’s very melodic in a Maiden way, the guitars are very similar to the Number Of The Beast era or early Mötley Crüe, not gloomy yet not too crunchy to the ear. The riffs are expected, but they are an amusing listen and the solos, with the famous Maiden tappings, are so Old School you can just cry out! So here you have many examples of why NWOBHM was so complex yet so enjoyable to comprehend, unlike the late Progressive Metal riffs which turned the melodic riffs into even more complex rhythms that sometimes could make you break a wall from dreadful boredom. While listening you can also recognize some early Metal grooves that seem a bit Glamish and you can sense a little “Live Wire” between the tunes. Like in all of Maiden’s early works, the bass has a huge impact, it’s the same with Enforcer, you can really feel the bass working hard in this one, creating interesting lead riffs while its peers charge on.

Aside from the band’s music, which it’s a gem on its own, Enforcer poses a future star vocalist and that is young Olof. Wow!!! This guy is just out of this world. In the 80s, there were many high-pitched vocalists, but today it’s a commodity that can only be found if you look harder. Olof has a talent, he is using it with sheer greatness and an outstanding ability. Olof is a true future star and should be bred by the hands of Enforcer.

Into The Night is the present school book for every new Metalhead, if you want to know what happened in the past and to see that the past is alive just listen to highlights like: “Black Angel”, “Mistress Of Hell”, a Glamish Crüe reminder with steroids, “Into The Night”, that is what the 80s are all about – Old School Heavy Metal outbreak, “Speed Queen”, Speed Metal will never die if songs like this will keep on rolling on the streets – the riffs and bass works of Maiden at 200 miles an hour, “On The Loose”, NWOBHM like version of Maiden’s Iron Maiden and Killers, “City Lights”, an instrumental piece of great music – Just blend “Ides Of March”, “Lofster Words”, “Transylvania” and you will see why today the music scene is short of good old instrumentals, “Scream Of The Savage”, a nice speedy tune with lots of energy, “Curse The Light”, an Exciter like song with melodic vocals, a blasting track, just check out the chorus. Finally, “Evil Attacker, the band’s first single, and the best one around here, where Olof’s screaming ability will make you wet your pants and the burning Old School sensation will send you off to listen to all your 80s collection.

Enforcer had made a collection of Heavy Metal bang out fun. These young dudes should lead the future of Heavy Metal and Metal in general because they are doing Metal a huge service. Keep it up guys – waiting for your second!!!