Band:	Steel Attack
Album:	Enslaved
Style:	Heavy metal, Power metal
Release date:	October 08, 2004
A review by:	Malcolm

01. Gates Of Heaven
02. Out Of The Flames
03. Forsaken
04. Bless My Sins
05. Immortal Hate
06. Son Of A Thousand Souls
07. Enslaved
08. Voices
09. When You Dream
10. Afraid No More

The Swedish Power Metallers became a little more famous after releasing their previous album "Predator of the Empire" through Arise last year, the line-up change they did (at least the singer) helped them to reach out to a larger audience, and many thought this band could became huge.
But times changes, and so does line-ups, actually the whole line-up change in Steel Attack, today, one year after the "HYLLADE" "Predator of the Empire", it's only Mike (Steel) Stark on drums and John Allan on guitars left in the band, now reinforced with singer Ronny Hemlin (Lack of Faith), guitarist Johan Jalonen (Asperity) and bassist Anden Andersson.

"Enslaved" is the fourth album from Steel Attack, a band that have change a lot since the debut "Where Mankind Fails" in 1999, but the band was formed back in 1995 but from that line-up there is none left in the band today, the oldest member is John Allan, that joined in 1998.
And as you know, with line-up changes, the sound change as well, and "Enslaved" have the third singer, so there is very hard to compare the albums, and the band themselves feels that it's wrong, so I'll not do that here, I'll just talk about the album, like it's the first from the band, because it's almost that.

It's 9 songs we are given, 9 songs with both faster and slower parts and all the lyrics is about religions, plus that there aren't any ballads (I guess many will shout out in joy because of that), but I think it's sad, because I would really want to hear what the new singer Ronny could do when ha have to get emotional, but I guess I'll have to wait.
Otherwise I think they really have found a singer that fits the music good, Ronny might not be the best singer out there, but he more than capable to handle the vocals in these songs, which is good songs by the way.

Musically I don't think the band have evolved so much since "Predators", sure the line-up changes does a lot, but overall the sound is almost the same, so fans of the older album can breath out, because I don't think you will be disappointed (sure some of you will, but there is always someone that doesn't like the new album of a band, that's just life).

To mention some strong and less strong songs, I'll start with the less strong, were I'll choose the starter, "Gates of Heaven", that sounds to much like a filler (sure, it might grow with time and lyrics, but after some spins I still don't like it), otherwise the other eight songs is good.
And to mention some strong ones, I'll say "Son of a Thousand Souls" and "Enslaved", but there are also one that I want to keep under countenance, the fourth one "Bless My Sins" that I think is growing all the time, but just don't have the edge that could make it a killer.

So to end it all I'll say that I like the album, but it's not a killer, but the line-up that are now can really make something in the future, I'm sure of that, just hope this will hold.
And it's probably a safe buy for all fans of Steel Attack, and people that like Power, especially Swedish Power.

Check Out: "Son of a Thousand Souls", "Enslaved" & "Bless My Sins".