Sworn Enemy - Maniacal (Century Media Records) - Back
Forming in 1997 under the name Mindset the band has centered on vocalist Sal Lococo and guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci. Not too long into the bands career they underwent a name change due to another band on the underground scene called Mindset. Sworn Enemy was born and thus far the band haven’t looked back! It did not take the band too long to build up a massive following and in 2001 the band released ’Negative Outlook’ on Jamey Jasta’s Stillborn Records. By 2006 Sworn Enemy had graced the covers of many of rock and metals most prestigious magazines and the band toured extensively with the release of their forth album ’The Beginning of the End’.

The bands latest album ’Maniacal’ continues Sworn Enemy’s evolution from a hardcore/metalcore band to a credible thrash band. Their fifth full-length album is once again produced by Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying), and is jam packed with crunching guitar thrash riffs and solos that will make your ear’s bleed. Lorenzo Antonucci and Jamin Hunt have come into their own as guitarist, and they can certainly stand up and hold their own against the worlds best.

The band still holds on to their roots with plenty of hardcore energy and catchy sing/yell along choruses. Sal LoCoco’s angry and emotional vocals alternate between harsh screams and aggressive yells. Sworn Enemy has unfortunately had to deal with line-up changes since there inception, but this certainly has not slowed them down.

Stand out tracks include ’Ignorance’, ’Weather the Storm’, ’Destroyer’ and the killer ’Fear of Failure’. This is Sworn Enemy’s most technical and brutal album so far. Maniacal is direct and to the point with the ten songs clocking in at just over thirty minutes, this is essential listening!

Rating: 80

Reviewed By: Cameron Edney - http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints