THE SPIRIT OF RADIO WEBZINE Review by Christina Ricciardi
ENERTIA - Flashpoint
Right off the bat, I have to give upstate New York's ENERTIA props for being one of the best unsigned bands I've ever had the pleasure of
discovering. Since 1996, this band has been pounding away with a unique sound that immediately sets them apart from others of their genre
by incorporating grinding riffs and groovy hooks into their power metal attack. Their songwriting skills and production are first-class, as
well, displaying a finesse that is virtually unparalleled in the metal world. Flashpoint, Enertia's third independent CD, is easily their strongest
release to date, and they waste no time letting the listener know that with the opening track "Victim of Thought." Enertia pulls out all the
stops from the opening note, grabbing you by the throat and shaking you like a pitbull mauling a rabbit. The Joe Paciolla/Jeff Daley rhythm
team is relentless, laying down a thick foundation of solid metal groove for the driving, crunchy guitar sounds of Dave Stafford and Roman
Singleton.
Individually, each player is superb, and together, these four are dangerous! Over all this is the earthy, raspy growl of Scott Featherstone.
Scott's voice is somewhat different than that of the typical metal singer in that he doesn't try to impress with notes that only dogs can hear.
This man sings forcibly and from the gut, and his emotive delivery makes you believe that he's experienced everything he's singing about.
All at once, his is the rage-filled voice of a wounded soul crying out in pain and frustration and the voice inside us all that makes us believe in
our own inner strength. As the CD progresses with tracks like "Leave Me In Peace" and "Real," the varying influences of each band
member are evident. These guys kick it old school with shades of Judas Priest, grind like Life of Agony and stomp all over you like Pantera
on acid. The guitar work on this CD is awesome, as well. Roman Singleton combines metal technique with a good sense of melody, creating a
harmonious balance of flash and substance. Guitar hero in the making? Only time will tell. In short, power metal fans will be very pleased
with Flashpoint, as well as Enertia's earlier releases, Law of Three and Momentum. Turn it up and fasten your seatbelt, and remember that
you can't hold me responsible for the whiplash.
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POWERPLAY
MAGAZINE issue 15 Review by Dave Cockett
ENERTIA 'Flashpoint' Animated Insanity Productions
A little known quintet from the US, Enertia are perhaps best described
as a classic power metal band, and the explosive "Flashpoint"
is their second album in three years, following on from 97's
"Momentum". In recent years, this kind of straightforward
driving, riff heavy metal has taken something of a backseat, but with
the recent success of bands like Iron Saviour and Primal Fear, the tide
seems to be swinging back again.
For
me, whilst most power metal bands these days are undoubtedly competent musicians, where most of them seem to stumble is in the vocal (or rather
lack of it) department. In Scott Featherstone however, Enertia would
appear to have solved this problem, as his surprisingly melodic delivery
lifts their angst ridden set several notches clear of most of the
chasing pack.
If
"Painkiller" era Priest mixed with Vicious Rumors and maybe
even a little Pantera is your bag, the tracks like "Victim of
Thought", "Real" or "Without End" will definitely
be up your street. The guitars weave some fairly complicated riff patterns
from time to time (indicative of early iron Maiden) and the
solos are sharp and incisive.
Probably
the most valid US counter argument to the current European leaders I've
yet to hear.
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FEAST
OR FAMINE MAGAZINE 2000 review by Matt Johnsen
Enertia-Flashpoint
(independent)
If there is a more professional, together band in the metal underground,
I don't know them. Enertia is so tight and so focused, it's really a
mystery that they haven't landed a deal yet. This is their third
independent release and without doubt, their best. For an easy estimate
of their sound, imagine mid-period Flotsam And Jetsam, but good. This comparison
may haunt them, as they are definitely their own band with
their own sound, but it's still pretty accurate and helpful to those who
haven't heard them yet. Enertia's music is full of heavy grooves, but
not in the idiotic Machine Head sort of way. This is intelligent and
melodic music thats loaded with hooks and catchy as hell. Enertia are
top notch songwriters, and all of these songs are immaculately composed:
my favorites are the opener, "Victim Of Thought", with it's
awesome bass groove, and the uptempo "Glitch", which features
some excellent drumming. Vocalist, Scott Featherstone has an amazing
voice; he tends to hang out in the middle, range-wise, but he can take
it up there when he wants, and when he rolls out the rasp, look out! He
is the natural focus of the songs, and his passionate delivery and
powerful charisma certainly warrant the spotlight. You can also expect
some top notch guitar solos from guitar player Roman Singleton, who is
truly an impressive player. To top it all off, Flashpoint, like
all Enertia discs, is produced to perfection. It is really miraculous
how good their discs sound; they're the envy of 90% of all signed acts.
Flashpoint is some seriously good shit, and if you haven't heard
Enertia yet, you really don't know what you're missing. If you can see
them live, do it, and if you don't have all their discs, get them,
because this is one class act that deserves all the support they can
get.
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ILL
LITERATURE MAGAZINE 2000 review by Marco Barbieri
Enertia-Flashpoint (self-released)
The latest release from upstate New York's Enertia has really grown on me with each repeated listen. While the band's previous output was
commendable it's their new material which really stands out. Melding earlier
progressive tendencies with a harder hitting assault and a greater grasp of
infectious choruses makes songs like "Leave Me in Peace", "Without End" and
"Victim of Thought" as standout tracks worthy of greater exposure. Scott
Featherstone's strong vocal performance is a real highlight, and although his tone sounds familiar I can't quite place the reference. If the band continues
writing in this direction making their future as immediate, yet still hammering then Enertia is a name we'll be hearing for quite some time.
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OPEN
UP AND SAY WEBZINE
2000 Review by Wes Royer
Enertia bill themselves as a "precision power metal band".
Enough said! This is downright one of the most amazing U.S. metal bands
around today. It's blasphemy that they aren't better known worldwide by
now. "Flashpoint" is their third release, and is just as
spectacular as their previous, both of which were end of the year
Editor's picks in their respective release years here at "OUAS."
Enertia's
first, an EP entitled "Law Of Three," introduced a
progressively inclined metal act that wasn't afraid to keep it on the
aggressive side. Their sophomore effort, "Momentum," turned
everything upside down offering straight-ahead melodic, but highly
aggressive and powerful metal. And yet again, Enertia have started over
and redefined their sound with "Flashpoint."
I
had met up with the band at a live show a year before the release of
this album, and bassist Joe Paciolla warned me that this album would see
the band branching out from the almost brutal sound of
"Momentum" and bringing in some more experimental, progressive
material for "Flashpoint." By the way, this band blew a
freakin' hole in the ozone above the stage; just a jaw dropping
performance! With that said and now done, this band hasn't simply proven
they can do anything, and do it with success.
The
songs on this album are no doubt the powerful, melodic metal you'd
expect from this upstate New York five piece. The production is in your
face. Paciolla and drummer Jeff Daley have laid down an impenetrable
foundation for guitarists Dave Stafford and Roman Singleton to slap
their crunching, Testament-esque twin guitaring upon. And then there is
Scott Featherstone's vocals. Many bands in today's power and progressive
metal genres are fronted by vocalists trying to hard to keep it clean
and polished, reaching for that highest screaming note. In doing so,
those bands lack one fundamental element: power. Featherstone's vocals
are aggressive and up front, but do not sacrifice melody and the ability
for a listener to understand what the hell he's singing without having
to pop open the lyric sheet. Featherstone's voice is the perfect
crossover voice, bridging the gap between hardcore and hard rock.
Every
track on this disc jams with intensity, precision, intelligence, and
melody. This has got to be one of the tightest playing bands in the biz,
and this is their most structured and remarkable release to date. And
did I mention that for an independent release the sonic quality of the
mix is superior? You'll want to buy a new subwoofer for your stereo just
to get the full effect.
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METAL
INVADER MAGAZINE 2/2000 issue Review by Sakis Fraggos
ENERTIA - Flashpoint (Animated Insanity Productions)
In fact, this is Americans' ENERTIA second full-length release. Apart
from ''Momentum'' they have also released the ''Law Of Three'' EP. I
must remind you that the band has been introduced to you through their
participation in a CD of the WARZONE series this summer with the song
''Ripped Out''(*). The music they are playing sounds like METALLICA and
ICED EARTH but not in such a ''commercial'' way, if we can call the
musical direction of such bands ''commercial''. They thrash in a
beautiful manner once in a while that makes us nostalgic of the old
times. Scott Featherstone's vocals still sound similar to Erik A.K.'s of
FLOTSAM & JETSAM and their compositions, from the opening one
''Victim Of Thought'' to their last one ''Right To Die'', are mature and
full of energy and passion. I dig groups like this one, that show that
heavy metal is not a lost case in the USA. (4 skulls out of
6)
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EUPHONY
MUSIC NEWS Summer 2000 issue Review by Kevin
Enertia-Flashpoint (1999 Animated Insanity Productions) Rating:9
Man, how do some of these indy bands get such KILLER productions??
Enertia has outdone many of the bigger bands with the mixing job on this
slab of metallic craziness!! Taking a core of pure 80's thrash, Enertia
has added the slightest groove touches on the first couple of tracks,
from there, it's pure metal for the rest of the ride. If I had to pick a
band that they sound like, it would be Flotsam and Jetsam, circa No
Place For Disgrace; Scott Featherstone sounds like a more powerful
version of Eric AK, and the guitarists wail like there's no tomorrow!!
Fantastic drum and bass work keep the rhythm freaks happy as well. From
track 3 through track 10, this is a minor masterpiece, and the first 2
tracks, while more modern sounding, are still catchy as hell. This
should be in any 80's metal fan's collection, can't recommend this one
enough!!
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BARCODE
E-ZINE 4/2000 Review by Bjørnar Bevolden
US-based five-piece Enertia is out with their third album to date,
titled Flashpoint. The band has been hard working promoting the band on
the net for some years now, and this is how I first heard about
this band. Their last album, Momentum, seemed to be appreciated by many
metal fans.
Their
new album offers 10 tracks of quality hard-hitting,
in-your-face-power metal. The dual guitar-work is great, up front and
really powerful. Total riffomania! The bass is present and consistent,
adding depth to the powerful sound. The drumming is of high quality as
well, numerous time changes can be found. The mid-ranged, rusty vocals
is good and powerful. Vocalist Scott Featherstone certainly
delivers.
This
is power metal, raw and powerful, nicely adapted into the sound of the
90s. Most of the songs are of finest quality, while a few fall through
as being slightly anonymous, lacking interesting melody-lines and
choruses. At their best, they are just as good as the biggest
power metal bands around. The production is also very good for an indy
release.
There
is no denying the obvious talent of this band as they are really
competent musicians and good songwriters. Every die-hard power metal fan
need to check this band out immediately. I really hope they can keep up
the high quality of the best songs on this CD throughout a whole disc on
their next release. Then we would be in for a killer! And please, to all
labels, its about time this band is signed! Worth checking out!
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HARDRADIO
4/2000 Review by Martin Popoff
Enertia - Flashpoint (Animated Insanity)
Now three records in with an unchanged line-up to boot, New York's
Enertia have crafted their best batch yet, Flashpoint being an esoteric
collection of prog metallers which lean way into the carnal bite of
Testament through Flotsam & Jetsam to a battered Nevermore core. A
complaint I've always had with this band remains: their cold,
mechanistic recording values, again something used deliberately by
Nevermore, being of questionable deliberation here. But it works for
such detailed riffs when they are placed on these slow, groovy, double
bass barrages, all the while vocalist Scott Featherstone superstar
wailing up top like Non Fiction's Alan Tecchio. Classy, classic
traditional metal that sticks to the grim power end of power metal. But
like I say, could use more production, specifically a few more layers.
See www.animated-insanity.com/enertia.html or enertia@animated-insanity.com
for more info.
Rating 7.5
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UNDERGROUND
METAL WEBZINE 3/2000 Review by Lefteris Evmorfopoulos
ENERTIA - Flashpoint (Animated Insanity Productions)
Here is a band that has been described by the local press here as a
later FLOTSAM & JETSAM clone. I never was a F & J fan (in other
words, I haven't listened much of their work) so I wouldn't know if such
a characterization stands true. What I do know though, and what I can
tell you for sure is that this u.s. quintet is playing a thrashoid kind
of metal (yes I know there's not such a word as ''thrashoid''! but you
get my meaning anyway!). It's a lighter shade of thrash metal music.
It's HEAVY heavy metal. I can't explain it better. The guitars are heavy
as hell but definitely without the ultra fast riffing we are used to.
Wait a minute! I got it! Think... mid-tempo thrash! Yes! That's It!
Sometimes it's groovy, sometimes it's kinda violent but generally
doesn't get on the extreme side of either kind of metal (call it thrash
or power or classic heavy or whatever). There are no ballads here. Even
their love song is actually a love / hate song and it's powerful all
right. Sean Featherstone has a beautiful voice and the vocal lines are
well worked on, but if I judge by some recent photos I have in my hands,
he has performed the cardinal sin. HE CUT HIS HAIR SHORT! GROW IT BACK
LONG YOU PUNK!!!! ;-)>
(this message has been a social offer by ''welcome to underground
metal'').
Back to the music, the bass guitar is thankfully loud enough (so I just
can't get enough of a bass guitar, so what?) and the drumming is
really dynamic. To be honest with you, ''FLASHPOINT'' is not an ''easy''
record. Its definitely not cliché song writing makes it important that
you listen to it more than once in order for the songs to catch on. I
have no idea if this is a good or a bad thing. Morally and acoustically
speaking it's a VERY good, respectful and admirable thing. You
know...not following trends and playing the music they want to play.
However such an approach usually hurts sales and it's difficult to make
a fan out of an inexperienced listener. The presence of one or two
''hit'' songs that would stick in your brain with just one listen and
make you want to whistle its tune, would probably be the material that
would make ENERTIA's recipe work! ''Leave Me In Peace'' is the song that
best approaches this idea.
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DETRITUS
ROCK / METAL E-ZINE Review by Tim Wadzinski
ENERTIA - FLASHPOINT (B) indie, 1999
This is Enertia's third release, following 1996's LAW OF THREE and
1997's MOMENTUM. For me, FLASHPOINT ended up being sort of a grower. A
lack of hooks kept me from appreciating things at first, but these guys
have the chops and are worth your attention if you're at all into what I
call "precision power metal." They use a lot of time changes
in these 10 songs, but Mercyful Fate they're not. (Although some Fate-ish
riffs do actually pop up in "Glitch" and "Real." Go
figure.) Things seem to be a little more rhythmically oriented this time
out, in that a lot of the riffs kind of methodically pound away at your
ears. This and the aforementioned lack of hooks usually will cause me to
tune out, but Enertia are too good for that. Guitarists Dave Stafford
and Roman Singleton fire off all manner of flashy bits, riffs, and
licks, vocalist Scott Featherstone's singing is just as powerful and
engaging as on the first two releases, and the rhythm section of Joe
Paciolla (bass) and Jeff Daley (drums) aren't just hidden in the
background; they do their parts to keep things interesting. Some of
FLASHPOINT's songs are a little too overall mid-tempo for my taste, but
by the same token there are no duff tracks. Things pick up steam towards
the end, with the closing trilogy of "Without End," "What
Hurts Me...", and "Right To Die" being three of the best
songs here. I dunno... Maybe I'd be pushed over the top to an
"A" grade if some of the numeous time changes were streamlined
a little bit, to make things more digestable?
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SNAKEPIT
MAGAZINE Issue #4 Review by Heinz Konzett
ENERTIA - Momentum (self financed)
This New York based band proves again that the American underground
metal scene is still able to deliver good music. The production sounds
really awesome for a self financed album, all the instruments can be
heard in the right way. The music is a blend of US metal in the vein of
METAL CHURCH and a heavier thrash metal style with some PANTERA riffs in
their better "Cowboys From Hell" times. The vocalist, Scott
Featherstone sings excellent, comparable to METAL CHURCH's ex singer,
Mike Howe. all in all, I am impressed about the song's quality and
heaviness in combination with their musicianship. The eight songs are
all well played and enjoyable to listen to, even featuring two killer
tunes with "Dear God" & "Weight Of The
World". I wonder why a record company haven't signed this band yet,
but outstanding music seems to be no criterion in these days. Check out
this band!
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THE
GLASS EYE MAGAZINE 1999 Review by Keith Bergman
ENERTIA - Momentum
The short version - if you're into modern-day American power metal,
especially Flotsam and Jetsam, check these guys out as soon as possible.
Vocalist Scott Featherstone sounds more like Flotsam's Eric A.K. than
the man does himself these days. and the rest of the band is rock-solid
tight, not to mention full of huge, simple and monumental songs. And for
an unsigned band, the production here is stellar - this could easily be
a Metal Blade or Century Media release, no problem. So why haven't these
guys been picked up yet? "Six Weeks" is the highlight of this
eight song slab of metal might, but there is not a bad tack to be had
here.
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UNDERGROUND
ZINE SCENE Review by John Ridge
Enertia-Momentum Rating: 10
The is the 2nd release from Enertia and in just 4 weeks this has sold
400 copies and will sell lots more before all is said and done. This is
more great metal from the New York ,. Every song on here was just killer
and my personal favorite was Sever the Wicked which featured some
blistering guitar work. Enertia has drawn upon influence that range from
Pantera, Dream Theater, Flotsam and Jetsam and Nevermore to create it's
own unique brand of metal. Enertia are all excellent musicians and Scott
Featherstone has an incredible voice. Together they pose a formidable
band to be reckoned with. This is power Metal at it finest. Add This to
the list of must have CD’s $11 ppd. [c/o Joe Paciolla, PO Box 687,
Gloversville, NY 12078]
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OPEN
UP AND SAY WEBZINE 1997 Review by Wes Royer
ENERTIA "Momentum" 1997 Animated Insanity Music (33:22) A+
(1) Ripped Out (2) Dear God (3) And So You Fall (4) Six Weeks (5) Weight
Of The World (6) You Know (7) Sever The Wicked (8) Walls Last year,
Enertia released what I considered one of the top 10 CDs of the year;
so, is it possible to continue that status onto their sophomore effort?
Yes, yes indeed! truthfully, when the first headbanger "Ripped
Out" came on, I wasn't sure about their slightly new sound; but, it
only took a closer listen to understand what a great purchase I had
made. With shorter, heavier, less progressive tracks presented on this
second Enertia effort, make no mistake about it - these five have got it
where it counts. Scott Featherstone's vox are immense with power yet
melody, and Jeff Daily's drum work is tight and original. And if you
don't think the other band mates can keep up, take one listen to the
instrumental "Sever The Wicked". I really can't say much more,
except that is you like hard-hitting yet melodic metal, YOU NEED THIS.
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THE
FRENCH CONNECTION 11/97 Review by Lauren Bouquet
ENERTIA - MOMENTUM At first, as soon as the first song began, i
can say that I'm literally convinced that Enertia has got an incredible
potential. The sound owns a rare perfection & the band can compete
with the best one in this style of melodic power metal (with progressive
touches). Musicians own an impressive technical level. Guitarists have a
great fluidity in solos & rhythmic parts are very powerful. Drummer
& bassist are really complementary musicians. The singer also plays
at a high level of quality & inspiration : at the same time,
powerful & melodic. He's got a real charisma & the tone of his
voice is very original. Musical area of Enertia is very innovative like
the break of "weight of the world" for example. Each song has
got its particularity that made it indispensable. It can come from
guitarists ("& so you fall"), from bassist ("Dear
God", " Weight of the world") , from the drummer ( break
of "& so you fall"), from the singer, ... Even if the band
has got evident melodic quality & musicianship , Enertia stays
powerful. There's no dead time during this album. & more over , they
made great arrangements in songs like in "Six Weeks" which is
a very contrasted song with the blend of clean & distorted guitars.
The work on solos is exceptional, full of dexterity, fluidity &
subtlety. This is something really difficult to do & it proves that
Enertia controls its technical level & that their not its prisoner
like several prog metal bands. To resume, Enertia releases a masterpiece
that outdoes lots of underground & famous metal bands by its
technical qualities, its ability to compose & musicianship.
"Momentum" is definitely a must have. Their potential is
incredible for such a young band. They bring a new dimension in heavy
metal & they'll probably & soon become a major bands in metal
area. A indispensable & breathtaking album!!!
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THE
KOFFIN WEBZINE #20 11/97 Review by Glenn Watson
ENERTIA - "Momentum"
As you all have probably now know there's a band out there in cyberspace
that comes from Albany, New York by the name of Enertia. In the summer
of '96 they released their debut e.p called "The Law of Three"
which was some of the best power metal of that year and I didn't
think they could get any better after hearing such classics such as
"The Mirror" and "Child Now Lost" until, they proved
me wrong with Momentum, their latest full length release. This album has
everything you could possibly want from a power metal band out of the
states. It has crunchy rhythms, speed, powerful and melodic vocals with
plenty of time changes and a touch of momentum. Songs like "Ripped
Out", "And So You fall", "You Know" and
"Six Weeks" are what makes the album so perfect and classy.
You just don't hear riffs and vocals like these anymore, and ENERTIA has
the balls to take the music to the limit. For fans of FLOTSAM &
JETSAM/ NEVERMORE / ANTHRAX etc... check out Enertia. ~9 bites on the
neck
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THE
SOUNDS OF METAL Review by Sean Jennings
ENERTIA - MOMENTUM
Having gained some attention with their last effort ‘Law of Three,’
Enertia’s latest release ‘Momentum’ is a solid sophomore release.
As I'm listening to the CD, words like power, crunch, chunk and riff
happy slam into my head like a concussion suffered by Steve Young. This
band has a killer, heavy sound that is both 80’s and 90’s sounding
all at once. From the onset of the first song ‘Ripped Out,’ your
ears are left blistered and bleeding from the powerful sound this band
forces upon you. Vocalist Scott Featherstone is anything but
lightweight. He sings with a power and passion somewhat reminiscent of
Flotsam and Jetsam’s singer. Heavy riffing and ripping solos are
handled by the team of Roman Singleton and Dave Stafford, each pounding
his guitar straight into your head. The rhythm section of bassist Joe
Paciolla and Jeff Daily round out this band with a thunderous force that
keeps the entire band focused. Check out the instrumental ‘Sever the
Wicked’ which shreds with excellent tandem playing, smooth trade offs,
and a driving beat. I also love the jazzy, progressive sections the band
throws in on ‘Weight of the World’ and ‘You Know’. Power and
diversity is an excellent combination to me. I have to admit that
Enertia’s sound is not groundbreaking, but it is very good metal
served up amongst a sea of 311 wannabe’s. It would be really nice to
see the band throw in the power riffing and crunch from ‘Momentum’
and add some longer songs with more progressive elements. However, if
Enertia never added anything new and played this same style of metal
forever, we would still be the better for it. I know Joe actively
promotes the band on the Internet, which will only help gain more
attention for this quintet. Fans of Flotsam and Jetsam and maybe Pantera
should definitely check this CD out.
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THE
METAL ZONE Review by Vasilis
This is the first full length CD for the Enertia. The CD opens with
"Ripped Out" a song with a killer riff. The second
"Dear God" is one of my favorites from this CD. It has a
refrain that sticks in your mind, excellent. Next one "And so you
fall" is a typical heavy metal song enough powerful. "Six
Weeks" starts slowly but after few seconds it's going faster, not
something special. "Weight Of The World" and "You
Know" are two power metal songs with great riffs. And
then my favorite one from this album "Sever The Wicked" an
instrumental song that i love it from the first time i heard it.
Great solos , killer riff and many changes ....i can't describe it. You
have to hear this song to understand what I mean. The last one
"Walls" it isn't something special, not bad but indifferent .
The band is together less than 2 years but kills! They have an excellent
sound and very good songs. They are all great and technical musicians
and the singer is exactly what this band needs. I think that we have to
wait great thing from this band to the future. If you like power metal
this CD is recommended.
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OPEN
UP AND SAY WEBZINE 1996 Review by Wes Royer
ENERTIA "Law Of Three" 1996 Animated Insanity Music (25:29) A+
(1) The Mirror (2) Child Now Lost (3) I Know Your Demons (4) Same Old
Story (5) If I Were You featuring: Scott Featherstone [vox], Roman
Singleton/Dave Stafford [guitars], Joe Paciolla [bass], Jeff Daley
[drums] *contact: Enertia Fans of prog and/or metal, take note of this
release. Within the first 30 seconds this CD had me banging my head with
delight. Much in the style of later Metal Church (thrashy but smart
metal with touches of prog) mixed with some Euro-metal sounds, but with
a refreshingly original sound. Scott Featherstone's vocals are
aggressive yet crisp, clear, & talented; there's authority coming
from his chords! And speaking of authority; Jeff Daley's drum work is
immense and solid. Each song stands on its own; every track making this
a must buy release. Is this the future of the metal genre... I HOPE SO!
Melody Successfully blended with rich vocals, flowing guitars, tight
drums, & intelligent lyrics... another BUY IT!
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HIGH
VOLTAGE RADIO-OSLO,NORWAY Review by Curt Sigurdsen
ENERTIA has the balls to go places others only dreams about. This is a
young band. Their self financed CD Law Of Three was released in 1996,
just 6 months after the band was formed. Despite this fact, the band
sounds very mature. Style wise, these guys are basically a Power Metal
band, but their nifty rhythm changes brings my mind to some serious Prog.
Metal vibes. They have covered all the musical/instrumental /songwriting
bases with an authority you normally only find in bands that has been
around for ages. The first track The Mirror pins you down with its hard
edged riff, and the eminent vocals delivered by Scott sets the standard.
3 minutes into the track, a short, but oh so excellent guitar solo
should draw the attention from the most sophisticated orientated
guitar freak around. Track two, Child Now Lost opens with some punchy
bass lines and drums. The mood has changed into a more grave pattern. No
wonder, the song deals with child abuse. It's a strong track with a
serious message attached. Third out is I Know Your Demons. This track is
quite different from the two previous ones. There's a weird beat to it,
kind of psychotic madness. Well, I guess it has to be, cause it deals
with the mind of a serial killer. The rhythm changes all the time, and
the music suits the lyrical theme perfectly. Next stop is Same Old
Story. It opens with some tasty bass lines, before the guitars joins in.
The vibe is Prog. Metalish. My head is swinging!!! The last track, If I
Were You, is the CDs definitive Progressive track. On this one, Joe
really
work his bass to the limits. ENERTIA are a living proof of the growing
interest for True Metal that's coming on. Law Of Three is one of the
best self financed CDs I've heard in ages. I bet these guys has signed a
deal before 1998. If not, it will be the record companies sorry asses.
Get a copy of this CD and be amazed. The best news is that they are
releasing their first full time CD Momentum July 8th.
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ILL
LITERATURE ISSUE #13 Review by Marco Barbieri
ENERTIA - LAW OF THREE
ENERTIA haven't been together long, having recorded this demo CD six
months after their origin, but their display of talent and
professionalism is obvious. While their sound is familiar, it is well
executed as the quintet stand their ground for progressive metal. Highly
reminiscent of Flotsam & Jetsam, mainly in the vocal timbre of Scott
Featherstone, this act also bridges the gap between lightly textured
endeavors and more melodic speed or power metal. Unfortunately ENERTIA
never gets too adventurous on the five tracks offered but their
style is that of the better of these lost breeds.
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ARTIFACT
METAL ZINE ISSUE #4
Review by Jason Goh
ENERTIA - Law of Three (Independent)
This is a five song EP which presents lots of promise in the band. This
band sounds like a great rebirth of the original WRATHCHILD AMERICA
though driving home a much harder attack than its predecessor.
Furthermore, I'm highly impressed by the production and overall
packaging of the disc, granted that it was an independent effort. The EP
kick starts with the riffy "The Mirror". Lots of cool rhythms
(get me my air guitar!) make this song an excellent opener. Vocal-wise,
vocalist Scott Featherstone sounds good for Enertia's brand of music. In
fact, the whole band is a compatible amalgam of musicians which result
in a very complete musical output. In short, they sound great! The
second track, "Child Now Lost" starts off with a cool bass
solo that flows right into the song soon augmented by dual lead guitars.
The verses themselves have an uncanny catch to them which makes this
song a great track to listen to. The chorus is slightly dull however,
but the verses and the great bridge compensates to make this an above
average song. "I Know Your Demons" is probably the track which
deviates most from their musical style. It's about a psychopath murderer
(I think) and the song really sounds like there's a madman on the loose
and prowling for his next victim. Pretty cool feel. On the whole, it's
pretty difficult to categorize a band like Enertia. They are neither
thrash nor heavy metal. However, interesting songs are what they deliver
and this album would do fine in any metal head's collection. Other Metal
Chart Rating : 7.5
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SFK
NEWSLETTER 12/15/96 Review by Tim Wadzinski
ENERTIA - LAW OF THREE (indie 1996)
These guys are cool. Although they're described as a
"progressive metal" band I'd say they just play heavy metal
with a lot of tempo changes. But by no means is this a knock!
This 5 song EP is brimming with great melodic playing. Each of the
tracks, "The Mirror", "Child Now Lost", "I Know
Your Demons", "Same Old Story", and "If I Were
You" is quite good. Aside from the vocals the production is
particularly crisp--the cymbals, bass, and lead guitar all sound killer.
Some of the songs have quirky parts--the sing songy guitar part in
"Child", the overall bouncy feel to "Demons"-- but
they help color the songs rather than detract from them. If you
like a good mosh every now and then and you're a fan of melodic, crunchy
bands like Anthrax, Annihilator, and Scatterbrain, you need to keep an
eye out for Enertia.
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HALF
CREEPER NEWSLETTER 12/96 Review by Paul Autry
Enertia "Law of Three"
This is a band I recently hooked up with & I'm already a huge fan.
"Law of Three" is the title of their five song CD that's sure
to make waves in the music industry. In my opinion, people seem to have
forgotten what original metal is all about. Well, if that's the case,
Enertia is gonna give you all a lesson you won't soon forget. When I
listen to this CD, I have visions of Queensryche, Metallica & Iron
Maiden. Great technical players, yet, extremely intense & full of
raw power. If the harder edged 80's bands would've evolved into the 90's
without falling victim to "alterna-crap" or industrial, this
is the sound we might have gotten. The five songs on this CD are
tremors. A full length release is gonna be an all out earthquake with
massive destruction!
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GAJOOB
MAGAZINE DIY REPORT #42 Review by Brian Baker
Enertia - Law of Three
REVIEW: This quintet has been together just eight months and is
already creating a buzz around the Albany, NY, region in a market
saturated with alternative and hard-core bands -- their debut is a
refreshing punch in the gut, featuring the excellent dual guitar
work of Dave Stafford and Roman Singleton and Scott Featherstone's
powerful vocals. A strong combination of old school arena metal
and modern gloom core with all the elements firmly in place. While
the songs should get stronger with time, this is a band to
definitely watch out for. RATING: 7.
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ASCENDENT
STRAINS ISSUE #6 Review by Craig Wisnom
ENERTIA-Law of Three
This Compact Disc is five songs of good, direct American heavy metal,
tinged with a touch of thrash. Nice, biting, and crunchy riffs, but
plenty of melody, and memorable choruses, good, solid vocal performance,
done with confidence, somewhat in the style of Erik AK. The band has
just a hint of more modern influences, enough to keep it fresh, but not
enough to bog it down in today's metallic monotony. The disc is
professionally presented, has a nice production, and is all around solid
heavy metal.
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BANDS
ON THE RUN-UNSIGNED BANDS UNCOVERED Review by Gina Achord
Enertia- Law of Three
This band from New York rocks! Their 5 trx cd begins with "The
Mirror". Their singer Scott Featherstone's vocals remind me a bit
of Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. Hard driving guitar riffs and pumping
rhythms of drums make a good combo. All their songs are great, my
favorite track would have to be "Child Now Lost". Great hard
driving metal. Be sure to go to Enertia web site to find out more about
this band!
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HEADY
METAL:REVIEWS Review by Corey Mckenzie
Law of Three is significantly heavier than most of what I listen to
which makes
it a bit difficult for me to review. "The Mirror" starts the
CD off with power chords and sets the tone for the remainder of
the CD. "Child Now Lost" begins with a cool bass intro,
then adds drums and finally guitar making a great minute of
music. This is my favorite song on the CD. "I Know Your
Demons" reminds me of the Suicidal Tendencies song
about not going down with the ship (I don't remember the song title).
"Same Old Story" has a great groove (which isn't common
in a song this heavy). "If I Were You" ends the CD with
probably the most progressive song of the five.
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MAD
MOSHERS REVIEW PAGE Review by the Mad Mosher
Album: Law Of Three
Artist: Enertia
Label: Animated Insanity
Description: Power Metal
Enertia are a band from upstate New York, and this is their first album.
It's a 5 track CD and available from them, and I'd like to thank them
for sending a copy all the way over here! Joe Paciolla (bassist) cites
the bands influences as including Flotsam & Jetsam (ah, memories),
Pantera, Dream Theater, Armored Saint and Galactic Cowboys. Faint tinges
of these can be heard if you listen, but Enertia do have their own style
and way of twisting the sounds together. Above all, they are a metal
band and they certainly sound it. Simple crunchy riffs introduce most
songs, which then turn into solid rhythms. The drums pound nicely and
aren't buried at the back. You can even hear the bass, which makes a
pleasant change on a CD. Scott Featherstone's lead vocals are great -
he's got a good range; from shouts to 'real' singing. I think what makes
this CD stand out (aside from the great songs) is the production. OK, so
there are only 5 tracks (a shame), but they are varied and a lot of work
has obviously been done on them making them a pleasure to listen to.
OK, so what sort of range am I talking about here? My favorite's track
3, I Know Your Demons. The vocals on this one are reminiscent of older
Anthrax while the music's more like recent material from the same band.
Heavy yet melodic. The opener, The Mirror has lyrics which are more
'sung' than any other track, but still has a rhythm you can nod your
head to. The final track, If I Were You opens with a riff that wouldn't
be out of place amongst Slayer's slower, heavier material. At the
price, I'd certainly recommend picking this up. The band could well be
onto something and these CDs could be worth a bit in a couple of years.
They've already managed to shift 850+ of them and without a major
company behind you, that's one hell of an achievement.
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SCREAM MAGAZINE
ISSUE #32 Review by Frode Oien
ENERTIA - "Law Of Three"
Animated Insanity
4 pts out of 6pts
I'm not sure if this band wants to sound progressive, or if it's
just an accident that they do. My bet is that they're a basic heavy
metal band with some spicy prog - stuff included. This album is quite
good, actually...
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TRACKS
MAGAZINE Review by Gary Starta
ENERTIA
LAW OF THREE
****
Each song on this EP adventurously takes you on metal rock side roads.
From harmony grooves, to punches & rolls, this band's variations
makes one hope for a full length label release soon.
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ETERNAL
JAM MAGAZINE NOV/DEC 1996 Review by Lori Powers
ENERTIA
Law Of Three
Now if you're looking for something a little heavier, you need to check
out this band. The CD contains 5 hard rockin' tracks. I find reviewing
this to be a difficult job because I couldn't say enough great things
about this band. They haven't been together a year yet, but you could
never tell. They have such a tight, well put together sound that you'd
swear they've been together much longer. Though i hate classifications,
ENERTIA would definitely be considered a power metal band. The
lyrics on this album are more dark & deep than the last CD I
reviewed. For example, "Child Now Lost" deals w/ child abuse.
"Abused for selfish pleasure/twisted shambles of my mind/too
ashamed to counterattack/killing you would be too kind/try and keep you
in my past but my vengeance remains intact/I've been scarred for
eternity because of your heinous act."
"I Know Your Demons" is about a serial killer - "Hey
you've made the evening news and Time magazine/press knows you as Dr
death, your crimes are so obscene/been inside this head so long I know
you'll see the light/its no sin this waste of skin, you'll mutilate
tonight". This CD is filled with killer lyrics, killer guitar riffs
and killer melodies! You want it heavy...ENERTIA's got it!!! Now get
yourself a copy!
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KOLLNOTT
NEWSLETTER 8/97 Review by Jon Kollnot
ENERTIA: Law of Three (Indy) ***.5 (Highlights: “I Know Your
Demons,” “If I Were You”) > First comment—fabulous production
and package! Law of Three is one of the most professional indy CDs of
late, with sparkling sound and tasteful cover art. Now for the music,
Enertia is a basic power metal band from Albany, New York. This band has
received quite a buzz as a powerful prog./ power metal outfit, but the
five songs on this disc are standard heavy metal, nothing too technical
or complex. The first two songs, “The Mirror” and the title track
simply fall flat, lacking interesting rhythms or catchy vocal lines to
make them interesting. But on “I Know Your Demons” ENERTIA hit the
mark, adding exciting tempo changes and a driving pulse to get the fists
pumping. From then on the CD doesn't let up, recalling the
straight-forward metal of early Anthrax and Armored Saint. One final
note: vocalist Scott Featherstone could pass for Flotsam’s Erik A.K.,
minus the shrieking.
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Questions
or comments? Email
enertia_demo@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2001 Animated Insanity Productions
Last modified: December 23, 2003 |
