Engel - Threnody

\r\nWell seems that Swedish bands are progressing in various music scenes and when it comes to American modern metal sound, they seem to do a pretty good job as well. I won’t label this release as Metalcore because for Engel things are a bit more complicated. “Threnody” is their second release (its predecessor was 2007’s “Absolute Design”) and no matter how you feel about the more modern metal sound of bands like Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine or Sonic Syndicate, here you’ll surely find something you fancy. If you’re not one of those cursing the day the above mentioned bands infected the metal scene and you dig bands like Soilwork, this one’s definitely for you! “Threnody” is the real deal! You can easily become hooked on it in no time and that’s because of the amazing melodies and the catchy choruses. I don’t know how they managed to create such an album, I really haven’t listened to something that cool, since Bullet For My Vallentine’s debut release, “Poison”.
\r\nThere’s pretty amazing job done on the guitar riffs and on the solos as well. Everything is as they should be. No long, boring compositions, no meaningless show off on performing as most of the bands of the genre do lately. Engel’s songs are simple in structure, solid and powerful! Some may find some hidden influences from bands like Soilwork but that’s not something bad, is it? Magnus Klavborn’s vocals vary from raging growls to crystal clear passionate singing giving the songs a unique sense of emotion while the use of keyboards here and there makes the compositions even more melodic.
\r\nAs for the songs all I have to say is that each one has its own character something really rare for the genre, so we have a wide range from the sing-along “Feed The Weak” and the full-of-emotion “To The End” to the almost gothic “Perfect Isis”.
\r\nOn the whole “Threnody” is a very interesting release that leaves way back the latest releases of the so called “big names” of the genre who, in my opinion, are overestimated nevertheless. Truth is that as long as bands of the underground like Engel and Silent Civilian keep up the good work releasing such albums we will not be wasting our money on crap. So either you are into that genre or not, give them a chance and listen to this record! You surely won’t regret it!
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\r\nDimitris Karantounias\r\n

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