Forced Order established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the hardcore world with the release of their 2014 EP Eternal War, and now, with full-length Vanished Crusade, they have proven that their whirlwind of metallic, frenzied riffing translates well into a longer format.
For the greater part of the album, the five-piece charge forward at a blistering pace. Although most of the songs clock in at less than two minutes, they are each incredibly dense bursts, incorporating numerous changes in tempo and transitioning between complex and straightforward rhythms with ease. "Unexist," "Turn The Knife" and "Sense Walker," in sequence, are a rollercoaster of off-kilter two-step beats highlighted by squealing tremolo solos and harmonics, adding texture to the sonic assault. Forced Order have hopped onto the hardcore trend of naming a song after their band, but it stands out as one of the heaviest and most dynamic in the set, cycling from bouncing bass riffs to an earth-shattering buildup and breakdown punctuated with a well-placed dive bomb.
"Ischys" and "Seven Realms of Fear" serve as momentary lulls, and act as much-needed dividers in the album. The decision to include another melodic interlude, "Dechrau," close to the end, throws the overall flow of the album slightly, but the eerie aftermath of "Allanfa" caps off the set quite nicely. With Vanished Crusade, Forced Order have put together a dynamic and well-rounded record that highlights their strength as a unit.
(Revelation)For the greater part of the album, the five-piece charge forward at a blistering pace. Although most of the songs clock in at less than two minutes, they are each incredibly dense bursts, incorporating numerous changes in tempo and transitioning between complex and straightforward rhythms with ease. "Unexist," "Turn The Knife" and "Sense Walker," in sequence, are a rollercoaster of off-kilter two-step beats highlighted by squealing tremolo solos and harmonics, adding texture to the sonic assault. Forced Order have hopped onto the hardcore trend of naming a song after their band, but it stands out as one of the heaviest and most dynamic in the set, cycling from bouncing bass riffs to an earth-shattering buildup and breakdown punctuated with a well-placed dive bomb.
"Ischys" and "Seven Realms of Fear" serve as momentary lulls, and act as much-needed dividers in the album. The decision to include another melodic interlude, "Dechrau," close to the end, throws the overall flow of the album slightly, but the eerie aftermath of "Allanfa" caps off the set quite nicely. With Vanished Crusade, Forced Order have put together a dynamic and well-rounded record that highlights their strength as a unit.
