Enshine is probably a name which is only familiar to those with ears glued to the underground. For everyone else, this is a Swedish/French ‘Melodic Doom’ collaboration whose debut was two long years in the making.
The first aspect to mention here is the immaculately high-end production. Bass, drums and synth absolutely pound away before breaking into something reminiscent of latter Amorphis, with a current of rich sound and irresistible melody immersing the listener. Vocal wise, there is definitely a feel of that same band’s ‘Tales from the Thousand Lakes’ era though the exquisite lead droning in accompaniment could briefly be mistaken for a second, melodic voice. When a quietly reflective segment does emerge in the opening track, it is abruptly shattered as the main force of heavy, haunting riffs reappears. Throughout, there is a simultaneously melancholy, transcending vibe to the whole thing. From first impressions then, it is epic but tastefully so; the kind of ‘epic’ created with a very clear purpose, by incisive musicians. ‘Refraction’ unexpectedly begins like 80s synth pop, and goes on in Samael style to reiterate the massive production. Naked emotion plays a fundamental role as track after track comes across like an awakening of the soul.
One of the aspects I appreciate most is the band’s use of apparently simplistic guitar work to soar up from the midst of their engrossing compositions – very much in the tradition of those previously mentioned Finnish melodic death/doom kings, or indeed Paradise Lost. But then there’s not much not to like. ‘Cinders’ has an acoustic-y start with synth and melodic notes caressed out of the guitar to create a warm, uplifting feel; while ‘Astrarium’ embodies the elemental nature of ‘Origin’ with its suggestion of a blowing breeze beyond the gentle strumming guitar and thick rolling bass. The latter once again employs synth effects with precision; providing both the backbone and the shading to this instrumental. The aptly named ‘Ambivalence’ re-injects some more of that bleak heaviness (without fully pushing you to confront the inescapable misery of existence). On the contrary, that constantly rousing sense – so fundamental to the band’s sound – remains. And at one point, a combination of disparate piano notes and female vocals mix in to confound anyone who was beginning to think that the journey had become at all relaxing or predictable.
The drumming really comes into its own on ‘Nightwave’, providing such a heavy rhythm for the rest of the music to build on. Quite possibly my favourite track, this is one of the darker and heavier compositions on offer, and one in which Oscar Borgenstam’s largely understated influence is inescapable. On top of that, the riffs and guitar tone are just sublime – especially in that ending part. Once we get to ‘Above Us’, the piano initially feels a tad obtrusive though the reason for its emphasis does ultimately begin to make more sense as the song continues. One of the criticisms that may be levelled at the band by some is how the riffs and song structures sound a bit similar. But that’s the name of Enshine’s game: to build a particularly momentous feel and emphasise it with nuances, which is what I think they do with immense success throughout. As with so much of the album before it, the eighth track oozes rousing guitar work – particularly in the solo section, driving rhythms and a sense of I don’t know what… spirituality, maybe?
Final track, ‘Constellation’, proves to be a sublime end to a sublime journey: a combination of excellent musicianship, song-craft and that HUGE production. What more is there to say? Well, if only more bands were this great at what they do. ‘Origin’ is one of those albums that reaffirms what music is capable of. It hits you right ‘there’. No, not there… There.
(9/10 Jamie Wilson)
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