As the trend of Power Metal started to wither, the greater names were safe and just had to keep things as they were, but younger ones had two ways to go: to follow the path of others and stay living on their shadows, or try something different to earn attention of the fans. And the Swedish quartet ENBOUND seems to try something new as heard on their third full-length, “Set It Free”. Jacob Hansen (known for his works with VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, ARCH ENEMY and others) made the mastering of the songs. The sonority is heavy and ‘full’, defined and clean, but with a modern emphasis, what means that they sound heavy and clean at the same time. For the artwork (a fine one, indeed) they hired Thomas Ewerhard (who previously made graphic arts for AVANTASIA, THERION and others).

To give it a special taste, as guests, here are Lee Hunter (former member of the band and of and WORK OF ART) on the vocals on “Actors”, Linnéa Wikström (KAMELOT, THERION, THUNDERMOTHER) on the vocals as well, and Kevin Moore (former DREAM THEATER keyboardist) on the keyboards on “Leave Them to the Night”. The quartet works on a trench into Heavy/Power Metal that combines the old ways of the genre (charming melodies, technical accuracy) with a modern and weighty appeal. It means that the music of them band sounds alive, fresh, new and full of energy, and creativeness isn’t problem to them, because they use elements of modern tendencies into traditional Heavy Metal to build things. And it’s hard to resist what they show.

They really worked hard in these nine years of absence since the release of “The Blackened Heart” (2016), because they created a set of songs that is almost perfect, filled with identity. It’s impossible to not hear to “Assaulted Taste” (charming vocals with excellent changes between tunes and excellent instrumental arrangements), “Maximize” (a melodic moment with charming appeal, with keyboards giving a different taste to the heaviness imposed by the guitars), “Set It Free” (a dynamical Power Metal song with some atomic weighty heard on bass guitar and drums), “Invincible” (a more accessible songs with excellent contrasts and filled with charming backing vocals), “Actors”, “You Never Walk Alone”, “The Foresight Bleeding in Your Heart” (charming melodies once more and an excellent chorus), “Extreme” (some technical arrangements appears here giving a Prog Metal touch to the song), “Black”, “Overload” and “Leave Them to the Night” (a silky and tender song with excellent keyboards parts contrasting with the heavy artillery of bass guitar and drums) and not praise the band’s efforts.

After nine years, “Set It Free” is a true proof that UNBOUND is alive and ready to conquer!