Engel - Raven Kings

(CD Album Review)

***3/4

Gothenburg does what it does best!

Engel hail from Gothenburg in Sweden, the home In Flames, Dark Tranquility and other great bands, They have a unique Metal sound mixing up genres like Melodic Death Metal, Industrial Metal and Alternative Metal. The bands have been going for ten years and 'Raven Kings' is their fifth studio album. This is also the first album with new singer Mikael Sehlin, after the previous singer Magnus "Mangan" Klavborn left the band back in 2012. Engel since Mikael has joined the band have been going from strength to strength on the live circuit, and really have been promoting the ass out of 'Raven Kings' to make sure it's a success. I literally see this CD everywhere I go, like it is actually stalking me... but is it any good?.

The album opens with the single 'Salvation', which hits you with the distinctive In Flames Esq. Gothenburg sound from the start. It's almost a cross between early and late material from this band. It has the screamy vocals and the fantastic melodies, before it launches at you like Engel are a Metalcore band. I quite like Mikael clean vocals, they actually make this song. Without them I think 'Salvation' would be really boring. It's not that it's bad, but it's very similar to music I have heard before by other bands. There is one other redeeming feature to this song it has cool keyboard parts near the end. Second song 'Your shadow haunts You' is far nicer from the brilliant drumming at the start, to the slight break riffs that surface the whole way through. Also again the clean vocals on this track are very nice.

The steady riffs of 'Denial' get sped up quickly and your are taken into a track that could stand up against material of this genre, writing in the early days and that is a real compliment. It does get a little more complexed near the end, which I think is totally not needed but I think Niclas Engelin and Marcus Sunesson guitarists in the band want to show off a little. 'Fading Light' is one of the best songs on the album and again shows off what the guitar players can do, but I think there is great moments by all members of the band on this. The vocals are really strong and it is really commercial, so has a good chance at being one of the singles off this album. Also the guitar solo sounds really Retro, which is a good thing in my eyes.

'My dark Path' has a great build up and is one of my favourite songs on the record, it has hints of Black veil Brides to it and the vocals even sound like Andy Biersack in places. It's great how they have the ability to mix things up while keeping their signature sound at the same time. I think it's a shame that they don't use bassist Steve Drennan (Amon Amarth) more prominently, because he used to do a great job in his previous band. Also some of the sounds on this song do sound a little too similar to stuff they have done before in other songs, but it is still one of the best tracks on the record.

'I am the Answer' is almost like an unwanted, unneeded interlude which really doesn't need to be there and feels totally out of place on the album. But it does lead on nicely to the storming 'When the Earth Burns'. A song with such furiousity and determination, that it wakes you up again from your sleep and makes you pay attention. 'End of Days' is nice and almost has a Rob Zombie industrial feel to it, before it launches up with Dead by April Esq. Pop chorus'. The last two tracks are two of the worst on the album 'Sanctuary' and 'Broken Pieces', they just don't have the impact of other tracks on the album. With 'Broken Pieces' almost feeling a little out of place with a Cock Rock going into Metalcore vibe to it... Hardcore Superstar meets Asking Alexandria does it actually work? I am not totally sure.

This is an interesting album, but I am not sure if I would go out and buy it. It has some great moments on it, but it's not totally consistent and at times I wish they would go out more on a lime without getting too technical. Engel really should be making waves on their fifth album in, but this is just nice. If your a fan of In Flames, Dead by April or even Sonic Syndicate. Then this might be a good purchase for you.

Review by Dan Devour