Originally begun as a side project by members of Deadpornstar and the Fallen, Arlington Heights, IL-based Enforsaken specialize in the sort of melodic death metal normally heard from Swedish bands such as In Flames, At the Gates, and Arch Enemy -- otherwise known as "Iron Maiden on steroids." A pair of late-'90s demos helped get their show on the road, and after hooking up with Germany's Lifeforce Records for 2001's Embraced by Misery CD, Enforsaken vocalist Steven Sagala, guitarists Steve Stell and Joe DeGroot, bassist Eric Kava, and drummer David Swanson (who had recently replaced Patrick O'Keefe) moved to Olympic Records for 2004's full-length The Forever Endeavor. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia