The way I see it, “Nostalgia” is a little far from the NWOBHM labeling as it follows strictly the term it’s inspired on. The album is for sure a trip to the 1980’s Metal music with all the diversity there was back then. So, there is room for ballads as the tittle track “Nostalgia,” tracks inspired on the great, but forgotten Chariot as album opener “Unshackle Me” and many other references as Def Leppard, Dokken, and other Hair Metal bands as vocalist Olof Wikstrand’s tone of voice addresses. Well, unfortunately, this magic charm of sugaring songs to reach a bigger audience doesn’t work anymore as there are no more FM radios, so, it’s fair to think that Enforcer really appreciate this kind of music. Besides all this, there are two tracks that fall out of the box into the trap of going too far from the roots as the intro “Armageddon” and “Keep the Flame Alive” which give a try on some strange rhythm guitars with some funky or disco grip as the latter. The ‘old’ Enforcer, fortunately, is in tracks as “When the Thunder Roars (Crossfire)” or “Coming Alive” whose Speed Metal grip takes the lead.
Balancing I heard everything here I’d say “Nostalgia” is a good with Enforcer trying new sonancies and daring a little more. Good call for the ones who like the new NWOBHM.
P.S.: Still trying to figure out “Metal Supremacía” – yes, in Spanish – as it isn’t the band’s mother tongue nor as far as I know – yes, I did google it -, a homage to bands as Angeles del Infierno, Sangre Azul or Rata Blanca. If someone knows, please help me.
Enforcer “Nostalgia” will be released on May 05th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Track Listing:
- Armageddon
- Unshackle Me
- Coming Alive
- Heartbeats
- Demon
- Kiss of Death
- Nostalgia
- No Tomorrow
- At the End of the Rainbow
- Metal Supremacía
- White Lights in the USA
- Keep the Flame Alive
- When the Thunder Roars (Crossfire)
Watch “Nostalgia” official music video:
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I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!