Engage - 2005 Demo

In April 2005, my wife and I had the pleasure of seeing Finnish metal powerhouse Sonata Arctica tear the house down at Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, Virginia. Three other acts had the pleasure of assisting the Sonata fellows in tearing down said house as well: Odin’s Court, D.C.-based power metallers Division and a band of teenage power speedsters from Richmond, Virginia. The youngsters powered through a blistering set that left me in awe because of two things: their ability and their age! What impressed me the most was while most other youngsters are playing cheap knock-offs of emo-punk and other crap, this band was playing pure power metal the way it used to be! Oh hell yeah, let the fury be unleashed!

Engage was formed in 2004 by bassist/vocalist Chad Brown, co-guitarists James Beard II and Chris Rudolph, and drummer Doug Trammell. Their style of power metal is fast and melodic in the tradition of legends like Helloween, Hammerfall and features influences in classical music as well. Engage’s sound has earned them a loyal following in their area and the band has also shared the stage with heavy hitters like Seven Witches, Into Eternity, Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall and Edguy. You can bet that soon, with the talent they possess, they will be the headliners! I guarantee it! The band recorded and released their first demo in 2005, and let me tell you…this is a release that will have old school fans of power metal head banging in delight and yearning for more! Who knew power metal like this existed in the States? Europe may have some competition!

The demo kicks off with the tornado of metal fury otherwise known as “Pain And Glory”. You will be shocked and amazed at how tight this band is already! The guitarists burn the strings with ease, Trammell unleashes the fury of the gods on his kit, and Brown delivers superb bass licks and unleashes the voice from hell! What a range this young man has as he reminds me of Michael Kiske but has his own flavor, as he hits ranges that are so high at times I swear they could shatter all the windows in your house, and every other house on the block as well! Dogs may also have to run for cover! Make sure you put ear muffs on Fido before you play this track! Flat-out awesome!

Sweet dual harmonies start the fun on “My Conquer” then a killer mid-tempo riff takes over. More awesome wailing by Brown and several tempo changes go from slow to you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me fast! Oh yeah! Hand me my sword and my armor right now! I want to slay some dragons! I really love the dual harmonies on this track. Awesome guitar solo? Oh yeah. You bet! Another great track!

“Enslaved” is a call to arms, a rallying cry to never let the forces of hostility hold you down! I love songs like this because they show why I love power metal. What the layman sees as stupid Dungeons and Dragons fare, I see them as songs to inspire you when you are down and it seems like the world is against you. So grab your proverbial steel and fight! Very cool beginning on this one as the tension mounts…and soon the dam just can’t contain the metal anymore! It needs to be freed! Another speed-demon sonic assault that will leave all the non-believers drowning in their own blood. Fast, furious, precise and oh so nice! Damn! How does Brown keep hitting those high notes? This track kills!

When you hear the beginning of “Epic”, you think, “I can take a break with a nice ballad!” Dream on, feeble mortal! More awesome riffage and sweet harmonies! Really cool tempo in this one that seems to be mid-tempo that wants to be fast, but not fast enough. I like that. More great vocals abound on this very cool track. The harmony lead in this song just rules and it leads to a great solo! You bet your ass it’s epic!

“Fury” is the name of the next track. It’s a good name for it. Why? Because this track is pure fury from beginning to end and faster than all get out! Do not, I repeat, do NOT listen to this track while driving! If you are blasting this track in the car while flying down the Interstate and get pulled over by a state trooper, don’t say I didn’t warn you! Don’t send your ticket to me either, pay your own ticket! Headbangers delight that is sure to cause spinal damage with prolonged listens. A track that is harmful to your insurance rates and your doctor bills, so be sure to listen in moderation. Who cares? PLAY IT ALL NIGHT!

“Live Your Life” is another rallying cry. I love the main guitar riff in this song! My God, I cannot believe how tight these guys are musically. Another power metal fan's dream come true! Great song! Now go out and live your life to the fullest and blast this track at full power! I’m loving this!

The demo ends its attack with some awesome classical fare, a blistering rendition of the Pachelbel classical standard “Canon In D Major”. This is a song which is featured at most weddings. Next time you are at a wedding, sneak up to the DJ and remove the boring rendition of “Butterfly Kisses” and stick this bad boy in! Just make sure no one passes out. One of the coolest versions of a classical piece I have ever heard.

As I kept saying throughout this review, I am amazed at the tightness and the precision of the musicianship on this demo. Drummer Trammell shows great speed and skill on his kit. Guitarists Rudolph and Beard II shred like crazy, deliver awesome solos, harmonies and riffs at will. Bassist Brown plays his bass with very underrated skill, and his vocal delivery is pretty damn awesome considering his age and experience. He has a tendency to over-sing a bit, but power metal is all about being over the top. You don’t listen to power metal for anything new or ground breaking, you listen to it to unleash the beast within. They kick out the jams with power, speed, precision and beauty. They will only get better with time! It makes me very pumped for their next release!

If you are in the mood for some kick ass power metal with no compromises, you have got to do yourself a favor and buy their demo. Be sure to visit them at their web site and order their demo! It is a power metal lover's dream that will make you want to grab your sword and start destroying everything! That is TRUE power metal. Engage delivers!

Review written by: Matt B.        
Date: May 12, 2006             
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5