Engel - "Absolute Design" (SPV)

Long awaited album from Swedish Scene darlings throws a bit of a curve-ball...

Back in early 2006, Engel released their song "Casket Closing" on their MySpace page and later on a free Metal Hammer CD. It was, simply put, absolutely killer. It had everything: soaring vocals, harsh vocals, chugging riffs, guitar hooks and a melody that would just not let go.

Then they released this album. And I scratched my head in confusion. Produced by Anders Friden (In Flames' vocalist and sometime producer extraordinaire), "Casket Closing" now sounds closer to 1980s disco than Melodic Death Metal. The vocals have been almost completely cleaned up, with extra pop-melodies layered on top, completely stripping the song of most of its edge.

The rest of the album also confused me. "Next Closed Day" is an excellent song that mixes Duran Duran with heavy guitars and yet another chorus that I can't help but warble along with. Really, it's an excellent song.

Now, elsewhere on the album, the band exhibits a diminished sense of originality. Vocals often bring to mind Static-X's angry outbursts (particularly on "The Hurrican Season", "Trial And Error" and "Propaganda"), and at other times songs feel like they're about to do something amazing but then give away the store to do something either weird or "eccentric".

There is lots to appreciate on this album (particularly the guitar-work, which is melodic and exemplary throughout the album), but after the truly excellent demo version of "Casket Closing" and the subsequent reinvention of the song and the band's sound, it can't help but feel a little like a let-down. I'd still recommend buying it (especially if you didn't hear the advance song), but also try to get the demo version, too. After the initial disappointment, I listened to this album constantly for a week, and it's now one of my favourites, filled with varying styles, ideas and textures that raise it above the level of many other melodic-&-heavy bands currently being touted as the next big things.

These guys could very well be big, given the chance. Do your part to help out, and buy this album.

Stand-out tracks: "Casket Closing", "Next Closed Day", "Propaganda", "The Paraclete", "Scythe"

http://www.engelpropaganda.com/ / www.myspace.com/engelmusic

Submersed - "Immortal Verses" (Wind-Up)

Another forgettable album

Submersed are another young band from the Wind-Up Records stable who continue to release albums that are, more or less, forgettable. Sure, there are some nice melodies thrown in there, the occassional guitar riff that catches one's ear, but other than that, it's completely forgettable. In fact, having listened to it a few times now, I can't recall a single song. At all. Like their debut, In Due Time (2004), there is one song that one notices; on this album it's "Better Think Again", which is track one. On their debut, it was "Hollow", which was track one. Sadly, Submersed are one of those bands that front-load their albums with their one or two best songs, and fill the rest with sub-standard songs (see also now-defunct Closure and Clockwise). It's a pity, as they occasionally do display flashes of inspiration and originality.

When compared with other albums on Wind-Up - such as Seether and Megan McCauley (both of whom have recently released very good albums) - it's a wonder people at the label don't wonder why they keep Submersed around.

More rocking than elevator music, but not rocking enough to make much of a dent, I really wonder whether anyone's going to notice or remember this album in a couple of months.

I have nothing more to say on the album. Check it out if you have nothing else to do.

http://www.submersed.com/ / www.myspace.com/submersed