Sworn Amongst
And So It Begins

It was a stormy evening on that past March 31st, and on such an evening, metal could be reborn. That day "And So It Begins" was released, and few noticed it. But they, these shady few, are happy. They smiled as they pressed play, listening to the simple, direct, and very melodic riff of the title track. Even the purest thrash metal enthusiasts did not turn their noses up at that nice main chorus, perhaps because Sworn Amongst may not be the most technical band in the world, but they do things with passion.

For example, the melodic choruses: how many bands during the (damned/beloved) choruses do nothing but repeat the usual power chords? Instead, they draw liberally from Pantera's groove, alternated with classic thrash-style riffs, high melodies in melodic death metal key, and even some passages that bring to mind the most commercial punk (like the fantastic passage in the middle of the title track): and the beauty is that the passage fits perfectly there. They set no limits.

Sure, for them, it was as if someone had told them to plunge into the open sea because they had life vests, and once in the water, that someone added: "Oh, I forgot, those life vests are punctured." Indeed, success didn't come, because metalheads prefer to listen to and buy records of bands that have been making the same album for twenty years (right, dear Kreator?).

 Other songs, those with guts, are "Unleash The Power", with hard rock/sleaze metal (!) influences, and "Lord of War", not to forget "The Rules Of Engagement", whose drum rhythm reminds of the legendary "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr" by Trivium (if you don't know it, you're not metalheads, I'm warning you!).

An underrated band, at least in the land of pizza.