Foreseen

This may be a short demo, but it’s a good one. Getting through three songs in a little under four minutes each made it clear from the outset that Foreseen weren’t your typical crossover thrash band, whatever the hoarse yelled vocals might signify of their hardcore influence. However, the instrumental prowess of the five-piece (I haven’t actually found the name of the drummer and bassist who are definitely playing on Foreseen) is beyond question. Because the sound quality is crisp and clear, with all channels well-balanced, you might even see your way to calling this the band’s debut EP, especially when considering that the songs don’t appear elsewhere.

The basic style presented is one of thrash metal riffing taken through both crazed fast parts and slower, slamming grooves, occasionally mixed in with a hardcore simplicity and sense of attitude. Just to make you realize that Foreseen can play, they choose to open ‘Intro/Pawn’ with 1:27 of instrumental work – presumably the intro – even offering a solo as a gift for turning up. The bulk of the songs are focused attacks of rhythm guitar dominance, taking guides from SSS and DRI (and other initialed groups) to ensure that impact remains firm and their point is rammed home. Moments in ‘Contrast’s Clear’ bleed over into chuggy hardcore, though the way the band pick up the pace would surprise Madball or Cro-Mags followers with its viciousness.

The early material of Foreseen doesn’t work quite as well as the template presented on debut album Helsinki Savagery, released four years after this demo. That said, you can tell even from this that something interesting was brewing on the streets of Finland’s capital, something that any fan of quick, riffy, angry stuff should want to be a part of.