Sworn Enemy

The third new label in as many albums for these NYHC veterans, this time around the venerable hardcore unit have completely retooled their sound with some severely head-turning results. The band have embraced their inner Kreator for this new recording and have become an increasingly affable thrash-friendly hardcore band. They have also named their new album quite appropriately, as Maniacal leaps out of the speakers in a way the band have never been able to do before. The ferocity of this record indicates that it is by far their most pissed off and focused yet. I don’t know if it’s the guest drumming of As I Lay Dying’s Jordan Mancino that made the band step it up a notch or if they were already well on their way to doing so but this is one impressive shred fest that should make non-believers stand up and take notice. This is one of the biggest surprises so far of 2008.