Enabler

Their latest EP finds Enabler taking their knack for incorporating killer hooks into their noise-drenched attack a bit too far. Two of the EP's four tracks are almost rock-influenced, resulting in a near-ballad and a listening experience that just isn't heavy enough. Unfortunately, this isn't what fans of Enabler expect when listening to the thrashy, crusted hardcore-fusion they ply — there's nothing thrashy about the mid-paced "Sacrifice" or the downright slow "Fallselflessly." This is a shame, as "Life Low" and "Shift of Redemption" demonstrate that Enabler are still capable of writing songs on par with 2012' remarkable All Hail The Void. The recording of Shift of Redemption, though sonically less pristine than last year's stunning effort, is more effective for the band's crusty sound, which should be appropriately rough around the edges. This isn't to say Shift of Redemption is a bad release, but following a full-length as consistent as All Hail The Void, having to write off half of a four-song EP is a shame.