Enabler is a pummeling, machine-like thrash band that appropriates lots of stylistic ideas from various subgenres. They are tight and mechanical, but never afraid to groove hard. They take elements from thrash, death metal, punk, hardcore, metal core, black metal, and more, and blend them into something that has unrelenting energy and power. Hardcore breakdowns, galloping double bass, punky d-beats, a small sprinkling of black-metal style harmonies, and a tiny bit of the melodic sensibilities of metal core are all featured, without the goofy, clicky drum sound that so many metal bands (sigh) tend to go for these days.
In terms of sound, the album is really tight, while not being shrill. While the guitar tone is bass-heavy, the bass guitar could be featured a bit more, because when the band falls back and you can actually hear it, the bass fuzz is pretty rad. Progressions can get predictable, but still kick with potency. All Hail The Void is full of catchy, chant-worthy vocals. The vocals are always on point, and the lyrics are discernible. The lyrics definitely come from the “pull yourself up from your bootstraps” and “no one else is going to help you but yourself” school of hardcore vocals. This kind of stuff easily brings out the teenage heavy-metal-dumbass in me. More than a few times, I found myself unknowingly bobbing my head, which is definitely a sign that the band is doing something right. One could imagine a bunch of seventeen-year-olds singing along and getting compound fractures in mosh pits across the country to some of these breakdowns.
But unfortunately, one can’t help but feel that there isn’t much new ground being covered here. Too often while listening to All Hail the Void could I look forward and foresee the next riff. While not being the most unique release, the material here is solid and tight, and fans of thrash and “light” death metal will probably get a kick out of this. It’s “poppy” and palatable enough to get some widespread cred, but not to the point of being weak-ass bullshit . The energy and intensity are undeniable.
All in all, All Hail The Void, while not being an instant classic or anything, is a great, solid metal record to put on when you don’t want to think too hard and just hurt your neck real bad. It definitely didn’t live up to the “Top 10 records of the year” hype that it’s getting, at least not for this reviewer, but it’s definitely worth a spin or two.
