Enochian Theory
Our Lengthening Shadows EP

‘A heavy alt rock/metal band.’, now this could be my bag…

I must admit that most of the bands I’ve reviewed have been on the gentler side of rock. There’s nothing wrong with that, but even before putting the CD in, I was intrigued to discover what these guys sounded like.

If you could give awards for song titles, ‘Tiananmen Square Dance’ should certainly get an honourable mention at least. It spins like a tornado into life – granted it may stick to the tried and trusted metal formula of contrasting the heavy with more subtle riffs, but if the wheel works, why make it square?

In fact the whole CD is well crafted and manages to steer away from the sort of cheesy ‘heavy’ rock that always evokes images of those headband wearing goons of the eighties.

‘Better For It’ screams and squeals its way into existence like a stick of TNT inserted into a pig. This is what I expected; menacing and brutal grunts, which make the point, then more ‘melodic’ vocals following it up. Again it has been the staple diet of many modern metal bands, using the contrast in the vox, but Enochian Theory manage to carry it off well.

They slow the pace down initially on ‘A Grande Movement’ before again cranking it up. By using the better elements of ancient and modern metal music, they manage to avoid sounding staid or wholly conventional. They’re like the pierced rocker, who goes to work and does a 9-5, five days a week.

‘A Countermeasure of Forgetfulness’ clocks in at over seven minutes, but seems to be more of what Enochian Theory are aiming for. The vocal mix fluctuates creating a slight fade in-out effect and, whether deliberate or not is irrelevant because it works.

I wouldn’t put these in the ‘Raging Speedhorn’ end of metal as, in places, its even a little grungy. But it does come across as very inward looking, as if their own pain and souls are on show for the world.

‘This Chemistry of Forgetfulness’ thrashes its way through the speakers, reminding me a little of InMe in the way the song has been constructed. While the final songs on the album, ‘Upon reflection’ and ‘For Those with Conscience’, carry on the good work done by their predecessors.

Listening to Enochian Theory has reminded me that there are bands out there who play good metal music. As with any genre that moves into the mainstream, its always a case of sorting the wheat from the chaff and on this basis, Enochian Theory should have a good harvest.