I like mysteries about as much as the next person: at least as far as books, movies, or television shows are concerned. When it comes to new music to review, however, I generally do not like being in the dark. That’s how I feel with Enbound – Set It Free. I have no idea who these guys are!
What’s worse: they are very difficult to dig into and discover. Their official website does not seem to have been updated in years; listed are members of ages past. So, we’re going to have to journey this one blind.
Enbound currently lists band members as: Toby – Vocals, Swede – Bass, Andy – Guitars, and Mike Cameron Force – Drums. Toby, it turns out, is Tobias Jonsson from the band Arctic Rain. None of this helped me at all!
They are a Swedish band, so now we’re getting somewhere. And, they sound like it! They sound exactly like they belong on Frontiers Music – melodic rock/metal in the vein of Pretty Maids, Eclipse, H.E.A.T. I also hear shades of Avantasia, Masterplan, and Allen/Lande… and even the Brazilian super band Soulspell.
Assaulted Taste starts out promising, and I’m instantly reminded of the above-mentioned Soulspell. It’s a speedy tune with very nice guitar solos and sweet-sounding female vocals coming in partway to add to the flavor. A catchy tune with great harmonies.
Maximize gives me my Masterplan vibe. I love Masterplan; their first two albums are 10/10 “Desert Island” albums. This is another very speedy upbeat tune. It makes one happy. But I’m sensing something early on that will nag me over and over, and we’ll pick up on later.
Set It Free and Invincible continue the trend of solid if paint-by-numbers Swedish Melodic Metal. Nothing earth-shattering here, but nothing to be ashamed of.
Something different happens on track #5: Actors. Former Enbound vocalist Lee Hunter is on the mic, and it takes things up a notch or so. I’m afraid the band has lost something with the loss of his vocals. He has a different, more plaintive/emotive quality to his voice that fits the music.
You Never Walk Alone is a slow-down tune, and while that’s usually a problem for me, this song is a standout track. Tobias’ vocals work very well here. I’m getting a bit of Avantasia here musically and even Highland Glory’s Jan T. Grefstad’s vocal sensibilities and sound. Good song!
The Foresight Bleeding in Your Heart is a strange song title, but a very good song. Everyone seems to be on-point on this song. The double-bass drums are pounding along beautifully, and the chugging guitars sound nice and fat.
Extreme, Black, and Overload are all fine, solid tunes that fit nicely in the meat of this melodic feast. Overload has some very nice vocal melodies, while the rest of the song sort of cruises along in cookie-cutter mode.
Leave Them to the Night is a frustrating album closer. I don’t like an album – especially upbeat, speedy metal albums – to end on a slow note. It kills the vibe and leaves the wrong “taste” in the ears. This is actually a pretty good song, every musician is on the top of their game, and Tobias handles his vocals very well in this one, but it just strikes me as anti-climactic.
Enbound puzzle me. Something kept nagging at me each time I listened to this. The problem, I’m afraid, is that they don’t set themselves apart in any way. Although I kept hearing influences from the above bands over and over, it was like they were a tribute band to those bands. Yes, the material was all original, but the end result sounds like an homage. I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see through a glass, darkly.” Enbound are like listening to a mixture of the above bands; “darkly.” Meaning, they are close to them in sound and spirit, but something is missing. Some “je ne sais quoi” that’s impossible to pin down.
Enbound are good musicians, for sure, but not great. Enbound are good songwriters, but not great. Part of what I find missing is a certain warmth that bands like Masterplan and Pretty Maids are experts at. Perhaps this is more an issue of production? I suspect the vocals have something to do with it as well. Tobias Jonsson is a capable vocalist, but he’s not in the Jorn Lande or Ronnie Atkins category, where their voices are so exceptional that they bring a layer other vocalists just can’t.
Maybe it’s an issue of not being a band together long enough? Not touring enough? Not pumping out enough material?
So, where does that leave us? I think this band has massive potential. I can definitely imagine them taking the next step and becoming a major force in this particular realm of Heavy Metal. As far as this album goes, I give it 7/10.
Track listing
01. Assaulted Taste
02. Maximize
03. Set It Free
04. Invincible
05. Actors (feat. Lee Hunter)
06. You Never Walk Alone
07. The Foresight Bleeding In Your Heart
08. Extreme
09. Black
10. Overload
11. Leave Them To The Night (feat. Kevin Moore)
Band bio / album info
Enbound was formed in 2006 by Mike Cameron Force, who previously had played with bands like Zonata. The experienced bass player Swede was added to the line-up, as well as the talented guitar virtuoso Marvin Flowberg. And finally in 2009 the band found their singer in Lee Hunter (Lars Säfsund, Work of Art, Jesus Christ Superstar, Eurovision Song Contest, Bill Champlin (Chicago), Joseph Williams (Toto)).
The debut album “And She Says Gold” was released in 2011 and was received very well by fans and the media, and songs like “Combined The Souls” and “Under A Spell” are by many considered classics.
Following in 2016 the fantastic follow-up “The Blackened Heart” was released – a great mix of heavy and up-tempo songs, all with their own strong and grasping melodies. The album featured guest appearances such as vocalist Linnéa Wikström (Kamelot, Therion, Thundermother) and bass player Mike LePond (Symphony X).
A few years later Marvin and Lee for their separate reasons decided to leave the band, with which they are still good friends. And Enbound wishes them all the best on their future endeavors.
New gold was struck and not long after, the touring session guitar player Andy (Pandora, Touring, Session) was recruited. Also, in-your-face vocalist Toby (Arctic Rain).
“Set It Free” delivers eleven strong tracks. Just like the second album Jacob Hansen (Amarathe, Volbeat, Arch Enemy) was chosen to master. Photos was shot by renowned hard rock photographer Jens Rydén who gave ENBOUND a dark fitting touch, which was beautifully illustrated and packaged by Thomas Ewerhard (Avantasia, Therion) who created the artwork.
Enbound line-up
Toby (Arctic Rain) – Vocals & Backing Vocals
Swede – Bass
Andy – Guitars
Mike – Drums, Keyboard and Backing Vocals
Enbound discography
2011: And She Says Gold (Inner Wound Recordings)
2016: The Blackened Heart (Inner Wound Recordings)
2025: Set It Free (Embrace The Fear)
Mastered by: Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Arch Enemy)
Artwork by: Thomas Ewerhard (Avantasia, Therion)
Guests on the album
Lee Hunter (ex Enbound, Work of Art)
Linnéa Wikström (Therion, Kamelot, Thundermother) – Vocals on “Falling”
Kevin Moore (ex. Dream Theater) – Keyboard on “Leave Them To The Night”
Distribution
Alive (Germany, Austria), Amped/Alliance (North America), Sound Pollution (Scandinavia), Plastic Head (UK), Sonic Rendezvous (Benelux), Socadisc (France), Audioglobe (Italy)
Enbound on the web
Website: enbound.rocks
Facebook: facebook.com/enbound
