Knowing that I’m no fan of the unintelligible badger faced grunter; the editor of the site you’re currently perusing sent this particular album to me with a warning that “some of the vocals aren’t too clean”. With his tastes in mind I assumed that I was about to be assaulted by CD featuring a non stop battering of growls and pig squeals that would quickly be assigned to the status of drinks coaster. What can I say? It’s good to be proven wrong.
Formed by Waldemar Sorychta, one time guitarist of the sadly lamented Grip Inc., in Caedium, Enemy of the Sun has produced an album of many textures and styles that should appeal to whole spectrum of metal fans, perhaps with the exception of those who find the likes of Bon Jovi a bit too heavy. After the sampled guitar loop intro of ‘Lithium’ which gives a hint of some of the heaviness and industrial leanings of the music to come, the album proper blasts off with ‘Another End of the Rainbow’, a track laden with pounding drums, fast guitar, and punk attitude vocals. This is followed by ‘I am One’, opening with almost jazzy, prog guitar work before the heavy riffs fire in, complimented throughout by some Spanish influenced acoustic work, a contrast that nicely counterpoints the occasionally metal core vocal roars. Continuing this world encompassing tour of guitar styles, ‘Chasing the Dragon’ has hints of gypsy acoustic work peppering an otherwise industrial track.
This eclecticism continues throughout the album: the almost traditional metal of ‘Castaways in the N.W.O’ being followed by ‘The Power of Mankind’ with its blackened buzz saw guitars and growled lyrics; ‘Ticket’ manages to combine hardcore with tiny smatterings of Yes style prog noodlings, and ‘Paradigm’ combines an opening riff simple, in your face, punk chords and attitude with gentle harmonious breaks.
It’s this successful combination of so many disparate styles, sometimes blending, sometimes deliberately clashing, that makes Caedium such interesting listening, and Enemy of the Sun an edge of so many other bands that pigeonhole themselves within one genre.
http://www.enemyofthesun.com
http://www.myspace.com/enemyofthesunband
