Entwine
Fatal Design

Returning after two years since the excellent "Dieversity," the Finnish dark-metallers attempt to replicate its success and potentially achieve definitive consecration as a leading band in the crowded continental metal scene. A work with ambitious credentials, this "Fatal Design" marks a turning point in the sound of the sextet by amplifying the electronic components and hard-rock/classic-metal riffs already present in massive doses in the previous effort. In fact, while remaining faithful to the patterns that launched them, Entwine intensifies the sounds, the riffing becomes significantly tighter, and rhythmic accelerations find more space compared to the past.

Aided by stellar production, the album in question turns out to be very varied, presenting changing soundscapes, ranging from energetic hard-rock derived patterns to agile refrains with reminiscences of Sentenced's "Frozen" period, to riffs on the edge of industrial-noise skillfully supported by futuristic keys.
Ten energetic tracks where tearful romanticism and metallic urgency walk hand in hand, without any drop in tone, capable of moving the listener by maintaining a very high "pace" and flaunting vocal-instrumental expertise of absolute regard. The opening, entrusted to the title track, reveals a Mika Tauriainen in dazzling form, unstoppable in the chorus and delicate in the introductory verse while the axemen support him with a guitar-crunch of considerable impact. "Chameleon Halo" presents itself with a thrash-industrial riffing (!) to free itself in a refrain that takes us back to the sugary past of "Gone," all enriched by pulsating bass lines and keyboard modernism.
Another highlight is embodied in the anthem of "Surrender," where Mika delights us with a breathtaking vocal performance while the guitars, close to the In Flames of "Colony," duet with a fast and precise drumming. The Swedes are indeed felt in the excellent opening riff of "Twisted" which then continues bright and melodic until merging into a "screamed" interlude of clear industrial origin. An intense finale dominated by the swirling twin guitars of the Mikkola/Kähkönen duo. In "Insomniac," the experimental soul explodes, dragging us in a succession of groove-rock styled modern guitarisms and vocals that are sometimes seductive, sometimes emotional and tormented. The granitic riffs unleash an effective solo and the concluding refrain takes us to uncharted territories for the Lahti combo. The conclusion relies on the quasi-radio hit "Break Me," a classy mid-tempo amid dreamy keys and a talented vocal consistently supported by excellent riffing, before launching into the last melancholy ride of "Curtained Life." Slow, with warm and velvety vocal harmonies, it leads us by hand towards deep choruses aided by enveloping and never predictable ivory keys.

In conclusion, "Fatal Design" proves to be a work filled with talent and achieved compositional maturity, likely consecration of a band skilled in evolving yet honest in not overturning the characteristics that have ignited its fans in previous works. Applause and hand claps.