Reviewed - 03/10/06

Demo 2005
[ N/A]




As I was waiting for the CD to start playing, I opened the booklet and thought "Hmmm... The way the lyrics are laid out - (JAMES SOLO) - is eerily reminiscent of Helloween." Then the first scream came. Best early Kiske impersonation EVER! A friend and I used to joke around that the best Helloween clone song is Dreamtale's Where the Rainbow Ends (the demo version, not what ended up on the album), but Engage puts all this to shame in a most excellent manner.

The music is maddeningly fast and well executed. The vocals are clean, clear, and crisp - just the way I like them. In tune, too, which is becoming a rarity these days. I am loving every second of this demo. As unbelievable as it may sound, in the materials that came with the demo the band members' average age is listed as 19! How much better can they get in the coming years? However, we must remember that Kiske was even younger when he joined that other band.

The song structure is very mature. The quality of the recording is better than most other demos I've heard recently. Engage sound like they have been doing this for a long time. With only a couple of years behind them, this bodes well for the guys' future, even if their choice of shirts for the demo photo is questionable... Rhapsody? Come on! ;)

Alas, once again, Engage are heavily handicapped by being from the US of A. Europe will gobble them up in a second. The market here will be much harder to conquer. As I was listening, I had the urge to email the guys and send them running to Glenn Harveston for inclusion in the next ProgPower USA sampler... Hopefully they get to read this review and take the necessary steps. This is one of few promotional opportunities in today's Metal market in the States. Engage belong with that crowd. I want them to do well.

Best demo I've ever heard! I expect big things from this foursome. Don't disappoint me, guys!