Review Summary: The last track is a bit of a headscratcher, isn't it.
Enter Suicidal Angels is a strange EP, especially coming from Dark Tranquillity, due to its rather mixed reception. This is a rare occurrence for the band as most of their releases are typically held up to high regard, but this EP is not and for a fairly good reason.
The first three songs follow the typical Dark Tranquillity sound from the 90s. The opening song is
Zodijackyl Light, which was already a classic off of their third studio album,
The Mind’s I. It has everything you want from a Gothenburg melodeath song with its thrashy guitar riffs, strong guitar melodies and an intense vocal performance. One of the main standouts on this track, though, is the skilful drum fills that are scattered throughout the verses.
Razorfever builds on the momentum that the last track establihed and picks it up even more with it having a greater emphasis on the harsh riffage rather than melodies. The next track,
Shadowlit Facade, features the strongest melodies on the EP. The lead guitar just cuts through the mix with its infectious melody, demanding that you give it your undivided attention. The track also consists of another powerful and distinct vocal performance from Mikael Stanne that perfectly matches the leads to create a truly epic sounding song.
Archetype. Now, this track gets its own little paragraph. I cannot for the life of me tell whether this track was intended as a joke or if it was an admirable yet misguided attempt at experimentation that just so happened to go terribly wrong. Either way, this song is absolutely awful. The band decided to mix melodic death metal with techno music. It is an interesting idea on paper (I guess), but the execution is just so boring. The riffs feel uninspired and stock. The beats lack any energy whatsoever. Lyric-wise, this track contains only two phrases, "Attach the Nails and Electrodes" and "No Remorse", that are repeated ad nauseam. All of this combines to create a track that is simply aggravating to listen to. It somehow manages to be both bland and highly experimental at the same time.
Overall,
Enter Suicidal Angels contains three tracks that are either solid or excellent that adheres to the bands standard style without ever feeling uninspired but it loses it’s power on the final track due to some very questionable experimentation. While, for the most part, the EP furthers the bands' successful sound, creating an enjoyable listen, the final quarter of this four song long EP drags it down further than it should have gone. I do recommend it, however, due to its strong start, especially if you are already a fan of Dark Tranquillity.
