ALBUM REVIEW: Enslaved To Tragedy – In Search Of Solace

When listening to their new album Enslaved To Tragedy, one of the most immediately noticeable traits of Minnesota metalcore quartet IN SEARCH OF SOLACE is how well they slip into the Sharptone Records roster. Balancing a congenial blend of heaviness and groove, they fit the label’s ethos perfectly, approaching their songwriting with both a sledgehammer and a cathartic volley of emotional themes. This isn’t new, the band have operated in this way since their inception, but the question is, in a year so sodden with metalcore releases, how will they fare through a period of hotly anticipated comebacks and new kids on every block?

On paper they don’t do very much wrong. Culture Shock opens in oppressive style, with vocalist Jonny LaDuke seeming to be screaming about three inches from our faces, and the guitars prowl forwards in typically menacing style. This bruising tone was perhaps unavoidable, but in today’s age of progression, it feels like a bit of a safe play. As we hear again in Losing Touch, an attempt at ambient riffing leaves the track feeling absent and lacking in any real drive. Heavier bursts act as punctuation, but ultimately the track is left feeling weak and without any real purpose.

Deathwish picks up the pace slightly, at least heating up the record with more brash undertones. LaDuke‘s maniacal screams are perhaps the highlight, howling with a sense of hopelessness. The album was inspired by the tragic passing of a friend of the band, and he tells us that it is intended for anyone dealing with addiction and the associated turmoil. These deep, dark themes offer an insight into the mindset of the people behind the music, and as we whip into Force Fed, they find themselves ever more at the forefront. Anger spills from this track, and a weighty breakdown leads towards Survive, although it does fall short of being spectacular. 

Perhaps one of the more notable tracks on the record is Left To Dust. Here, IN SEARCH OF SOLACE veer a little further away from their root formula, and add a dimension that we haven’t heard to this point. Layered guitar ebbs between battering drums, and the track seems to gather an exponential pace that ultimately culminates in a down tempo breakdown. This feels like the heaviest moment on the album, and shows a side to IN SEARCH OF SOLACE that ought to shine through more frequently. As we reach Silent Voices, we are left wanting more of that metalcore barrage, yet although the band employ all the correct metalcore-isms, it feels as though we have been flung back into a track without any real ambition. 

Enslaved To Tragedy is frustrating, because in the odd moment there seems to be hope of more creative songwriting, but at the core, there isn’t enough happening to be exciting. Vacancy and Path To Destruction continue to confirm this. Metalcore fans will surely get a kick out of the battering tone and prolific writing style, but they are unlikely to rank the record particularly highly amongst the year’s best. Perhaps it’s an over saturation in the genre, or perhaps IN SEARCH OF SOLACE need to revisit the drawing board, but either way, Enslaved To Tragedy falls short of expectation.

Rating: 6/10

Enslaved To Tragedy is out now via SharpTone Records. 

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