Albany, New York's Enertia surges out of your speakers right away on Force, with opening cut "Time To Go" signaling that this eight-year-old "pure American metal" band has no intention of slowing down. Indeed, Enertia (which played ProgPower USA V's pre-show party in September) maintains that swirling aggression for all 11 tracks on Force, which was produced by Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Spiral Architect, Dokken). While Scott Featherstone's gruff voice often lacks the dynamics that would have taken some of these songs in more diverse directions — you get the idea that he could just as easily be fronting a death-metal band — as a unit, Enertia could melt steel. Staccato riffs and searing solos dominate this record, while the band occasionally gets its groove on in songs like "Clearer" and "The Sky is Falling."
One other note: There are no ballads here. Instead, Force creates the impression that these four guys don't have a sensitive bone in their bodies — at least when it comes to music. I actually met them at ProgPower USA V, and they seem like swell dudes. They just like to make a lot of noise. Feel the Force.
Track Listing:
1) Time to Go (5:14)
2) Messed Up Son (5:27)
3) Anything (5:23)
4) Secrets (5:01)
5) Bleed 4:28)
6) Not Alone (4:35)
7) Hole in the Head (4:29)
8) Clearer (4:04)
9) Withstand(4:56)
10) The Sky is Falling (4:35)
11) Gun (5:06)
Total Time: 53:22