EP review: Enterprise Earth – Descent Into Madness

By DAN SOUTHALL

HAILING from Spokane, Washington, Enterprise Earth has been one of those bands I have heard one or two things about without listening to. This results from a quickly swinging revolving door to the good old accusation of just plain ‘been the, done that’ laziness that deathcore can attract. I am not here to get into that argument.

Intrigued by the title of this EP when it slid into my inbox and with no actual information other than extended Google research, I decided it was time to dig in and see if there was a fuss to be had.

Being an EP, there is no time to waste and the band cut in quickly with “I. The Descent” showing exactly how they intend to operate from the outset, with stinging solos and bounce-worthy breakdowns.

Pick of the short play list is “IV. Chasms of Hell” with the band throwing absolutely everything in the metal canon into it: tasty solos? Check. Breakdowns to make your mates mosh? Check. Atmospheric and death-as-fuck lyrics? Big checks. But after 20 minutes of sufficient and threatening audible violence, Enterprise Earth change tack slightly with closer “VI. Shapeshifter” bringing forth more melody and introducing clean vocals to ever so slightly soothe what came before it.

This recording doesn’t set out to create something new or fresh, but it does serve as a new beginning of sorts for the band. They have gone straight for the throat punch, no fancy trickery to lull in those who don’t know what this kind of music is about. Not entirely ignorant and full of two-step mosh parts, but not completely devoid of them either. In case you wonder, my taste in music does extend to some deathcore bands. Why doesn’t yours? So whilst this might skew my view just a little, sometimes you have to let go of the elitist outlook and just have a moshing good time.