Biography
Enforsaken formed in Arlington Heights, Illinois, when musicians from Deadpornstar and the Fallen launched the group as a side project. Their style centers on melodic death metal in the Swedish tradition of In Flames, At the Gates, and Arch Enemy, a sound frequently described as "Iron Maiden on steroids." A pair of late-'90s demos opened doors for the band, which signed with Germany's Lifeforce Records and delivered the 2001 album Embraced by Misery. The roster at the time included vocalist Steven Sagala, guitarists Steve Stell and Joe DeGroot, bassist Eric Kava, and drummer David Swanson, who had recently stepped in for Patrick O'Keefe. The group later transferred to Olympic Records and released the 2004 full-length The Forever Endeavor.