"8/10" - Morbid Noizz (Poland)
"8.5/10" - Unrestrained #15 (Canada)
"5/7" - Earshot Mag

"The first thing that went through my mind once I had listened to a bit of Enter Self's latest album was Morbid Angel *domination* ; "Awaken In Agony" is quite like "Domination" but not in direct copy way, but influentially. Grinding Death Metal to put it in words with influence from bands like Deicide, Malevolant Creation and Slayer - they did afterall participate in a slayer tribute - and believe it or not, they also remind me of Pantera. Interestingly they are not a full speed assault, but instead have varying tempo, fast tracks interspaced by painfully slow crunchy tracks. Catchy riffs and a killer production make it sound very heavy. Song structure is simple and effictive, just like it should be in pure Grinding Death Metal - 8/10"
- Metal Disorder (Greece)

"Enter Self is straight up death metal with a few twists & turns to keep it interesting. The band has been around for a long time & in my opinion are a force to be reckoned with."Awaken in Agony" is the band's second full length CD & first for lost disciple records. The sound on the CD is tight, solid & devastating death metal! The vocals are deep grunts above grinding guitars & thundering double bass. They also throw in some very smooth acoustic parts & on top of that some awesome samples. Enter Self has gotten a bad rap from a few reviews, but I can't see where they (reviewers) are coming from. Are they listening to the same CD as me? I find this CD to be tough as nails with plenty of power energy to keep it all alive. All though I don't have the lyrics in front of me, they sound interesting & insightful and that is always a plus in my book! Maybe it is because I am a sucker for this flooded form of death metal, but I strongly feel Enter Self holds their own amongst the others. They have the originality & creativity to make me listen! I'm into this CD & I think anyone into groove-based death metal will be too. So if you like your metal heavy, powerful & thought provoking, check this one out! 6 6 .5 /6 6 6"
- BurningSeason (USA)

"Enter Self play almost a unique brand of death metal, coming across more like early Deicide and Internal Bleeding. "Awaken in Agony" has a fine production and sound, courtesy of Morrisound studios, giving the band a very extreme edge in the death metal circles. "Make Me Sick" is a total mid paced to fast, mosh inducing track that's potent enough to stir everyone crazy at an E.S.concert. Plus, its catchy and choppy rhythms are very reminiscent of the late 80's/early 90'sstyle of death metal."
- Explicitly Intense (USA)

"Clear and concise death metal, aggressive with a groove that hits home like RESURRECTION, DEATH and with the galloping vigor of earlier DEICIDE. I like the old style harmonizing guitars (and neck-pick-up sound guitar solos like James Murphy's contribution to extreme metal) and that the riffs are somewhat structured with thought and a leaning towards an attempt at that which has not been experienced before in death metal plus that blasting drums are not so prevalent as to ruin the original ideals of speed. I want more."
- Bullet Belt Bob, Necrozine (Austrailia)

"Rating: 4 of 6 These are two brand new CDs brought forth the light by US Lost Disciple Records. Don't ask me why, but I decided to compose some kind of a combined review this time. Ok, let's start with BURIAL. This is just a splendid piece of US-styled death metal, unfortunately not that memorable. Versatile and brutal as hell itself. As to ENTER SELF, it's heavily reminiscent of 'Domination' CD. Exactly, the one by MORBID ANGEL. 'Awaken In Agony' isn't a copycat-sort of CD, though. Both are brilliantly executed and well performed, therefore it strikes as most death metal freaks definitely will get high on it. It's not the same with me, however saying I didn't like 'Enlightened With Pain' or 'Awaken In Agony' would be a severe lie."
- (Herr Stalhammar) Vae Solis (Russia)

"Another surprise from Lost Disciple Records. When I popped in Tennessee's ENTER SELF's Awaken in Agony in the cd player I was expecting another excerise in INTERNAL BLEEDING worship, and while there is a bit of that here, there are also a lot of good ideas amidst all the chug and mosh. While Awaken in Agony is certainly heavy as all hell, and will certainly appease all fans of American "brootal" death, ENTER SELF didn't forget to include guitar solos like many of todays brutal death metal bands do. It serves as a welcome counterpart to the catchy, pit inducing(which they do quite well) punishment of songs like "Clandestine Fear" and "Betrayal". The band also manages to throw in a few curve balls into their brand of death metal, such as the addition of a cool instrumental entitled "Light Of Black", and even a tiny hint of melody amidst all the chugging riffage to keep things interesting (mainly in the solo department). Awaken in Agony serves as a bridge between classic early 90s U.S. death like SUFFOCATION and MALEVOLENT CREATION and newer brutal acts like PYREXIA and DYING FETUS, and is an energetic aggression releaser of an album. Brutal deatheads into the New York style of death would do well into checking out ENTER SELF."
- Unhallowed

"Here is a CD from a pulverizing band that was introduced in 1994. They ended up recording a self financed record that is just now seeing the light of day. What you get is some grinding death metal. Already listening to the first track "Clandestine Fear" is a crusher right out of the shoot. Very death metal with the more growling vocals. I must mention that this is one of the bands from that Slayer tribute Mandatory Suicide and "Erosion" sort has a Slayer hit meets Decide meets Malevolent Creation bit. "Make Me Sick" is another that has weird riffs that dare I venture to say that the guitars have alittle of that Pantera zap! "Light Of Black" also has a bit more mellow and feeling vibe in the acoustic instrumental that it is. "Habitual God" has more of a very gloom side to it ala early My Dying Bride. I'm really hearing in this music that they aren't straying from the brutal and aren't afraid to punch in some newer experimental sounds be them riffs or progressive rhythm patterns. It is for those that love aggressive heart gripping metal!!! Obituary lovers also take heed. "Seed Of Torment" closes it with such a gloom sound as thick as tar. They have brought many cool ideas to the table with a death metal record with different twits that keep you tuned for the whole ride."
- Hammerhead

"I can't say how much I love classic death metal. Enter Self is another one of those bands that Lost Disciple Records has on its label. The bands latest release is called "Awaken In Agony," and their sound is like a cross between the best of the classic death metal bands, including Deicide and Suffocation. Its very cool brutal music. Every song gets your head banging, and it makes you wish you were in a mosh pit. There are 10 tracks on this CD, and it last over 38 minutes. My favorite songs on this CD are "Clandestine Fear," "Self Demise," and "Putrid Recollections." I don't know what it is with the song "Self Demise," but I think its probably the best death metal song I have heard this year. I mean its really nothing special, but it has some awesome catchy riffs, and the lyrics of the song are great, and the chorus is awesome!! If you like the classic death metal sound you will like this CD, Enter Self have their band going in a great direction. Rating: 86"
- Metal Fanatix

"Much like the Burial release, Enter Self are just a meat n' two veg death metal band. Bellowing roars and rumbling guitars fight for space with the pounding blast beats making Awaken In Agony another brutal affair. It's not all out blasts though as the occasional slow, crunchier sections creep into the Enter Self sound serving to break up rest of this death fest. To be truthful there isn't that much you can say about Enter Self that their songs title such as Make Me Sick and Putrid Recollections don't say for themselves. Death metal fans make that TWO surefire winners in you collection. [7/10]"
GRAHAM FINNEY - Intoxicated zine(UK)

"Do you like Death metal with tipical New York's sound? Then listen to Enter Self, this is their cd debut that brings lots of energy and power together with creativity and ability, songs like "Clandestine Fear" and "Erosion" are a good example of it, with their vile exact changes, groove, drums that annihilate and Kirk's guttural vocals that will make you move your head to lose it. This production continues with other songs full of hate like "Make me Sick" (have it in mind) and "Self Demise", but then, there is an instrumental that, to be honest, surprised us , "Light of Black" we didn't expected to be so melodic...the next two songs reduce a little bit the speed in some moments, but without losing their brutality, you can appreciate monstrous riffs and power blasting drums, "Putrid Recollections" is a song that is waiting for you among the next ones. The disc finishes with "Seed of Torment (dreams)". Enter Self will be hear by the scene with no doubt, they have played together with Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creations, Master and Opressor in Milwaukee Metal Fests, besides they appeared in tribute albums to Sepultura (performing "The Curse/Belial Devastation") and Slayer (performing "Mandatory Suicide") , both albums were released by Dwell Records. Moreover, the disc was mixed and mastered in Morrison Studios by Jim Morrison himself....you better go and look for a place where to start digging in because you'll bury yourself after listening to Awaken In Agony..."
Prelude in Darkness webzine (peru)

"Awake, hell yes! Agony? Not to my musical tastebuds. This is the coolest. I love it when labels send you fantastic releases. Awaken in Agony is killer brutal death metal that is slick and well produced so that it comes across as technically superior and rhythmic within clearly defined death metal parameters. Oh wow! Of course it's well produced--Awaken in Agony was produced by the legendary Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida. Guess the band thought he could add a dab of Morbid Angel or Monstrosity to the mix. Morris always adds superior production and an uncanny sense of perfect sound values for each individual client. Your neck will be snapping with emphasis on the almost-as-fast-as-Krisiun parts and flipping side-to-side with the militaristic melodic marchs € la Pantera. Tym and Wes combine for a potent guitar duo pumping out superior leads and rocking riffs that will keep your interest. Fist-pumping, head-shaking favorites include "Clandestine Fear," "Erosion," "Habitual God," and "Blood Flow Chamber." Did I mention that this is some of the fastest and most melodic brutal death metal that I have ever witnessed? I am definitely keeping an eye on Enter Self."
Ear Pollution(USA)

"Heavy and variated yet fast Death Metal in the vein of early Cannibal Corpse, apart from the vocals which are not as exaggerated as Mr. Barnes'. The production is powerful and the riffs are complex, the way we want it."
- Apostasia

"I can't even begin to state how the title of this album is so fitting. If anything caused you to actually awake in agony, chances are Enter Self would be on the soundtrack to the previous night's proceedings. This is heavy and burly death metal with hatred for the human race made evident in their lyrics and their incredibly heavy music. A slow pace is emphasized on a lot of the songs, and then they speed things up and bring the double bass in to just pulverize your ears. Think very heavy and very good death metal that isn't all about the mosh riffs but they don't forget them either. This one is an awesome 10 tracks with an instrumental and plenty of changes throughout that keeps you interested in it's 38 and a half minute playing time. Definitely a winner in my book."
- Loudnet

"For those who appreciate Morbid Angel's album "Altars Of Madness", this record fits like a glove. The initial riffs and rhythm guitars if songs like Clandestine Fear and Self Demise remind us a lot of the old Morbid Angel feeling, specially due to the technical guitars alongside brutal riffs. But the difference in Enter Self are some cadenced sections inserted along the songs, and in these moments we remember the first 2 Obituary albums. Even though their music is solid, it doesn't introduce new elements, i.e. something that makes it special. However, any Death Metal fan will recognize enough elements in "Awaken in Agony" to assure 40 minutes of high quality death Metal. Highlights are the balanced Habitual As (more than 5 minutes of a morbid doom/death metal, from a time where there was no gothic element inside the style). After it we have Putrid Recollections, where the voice reaches the paroxysm of brutality in this album. A clear prove the band either playing slow or fast, shows talent. Rating: 7,5"
- Alexander Kurtz, Renegade Rock (Brazil)

"Lost Disciple's second brutal offering this month and I gotta say they are 2 for 2. While taking a less guttural vocal approach then most death metal bands it works for Enter Self. The drumming and riffs remind of of early Pyrexia or Internal Bleeding a bit, two of my favorite bands, so they definatly can't go wrong there. The difference though, Enter Self has more variety in their riffs, and its not just one low tuned riff, they have some very technical riffs but then go into a groove out of the middle of nowhere, much like Rotting do on their cd Crushed, but when Enter Self does it it isn't quite as sloppy or chunky, they groove but they do it right. While it may take some time for the midrange vocals to grow on you, musically this album is so well written and played its hard to overlook just for one minor problem. If you like any death metal with groove like Clean Flesh, Devourment, Internal Bleeding, Dying Fetus, or Pyrexia then you will be into this album. Rating: 8/10"
- Unchain the Underground

"I had heard a lot about this band being very groove oriented, and was cautiously putting the disc into the player, but much to my surprise it is a fairly brutal album as well. There are some groove parts, but the brutal nature exceeds the groove. I guess the Internal Bleeding comparisons are inevitable, but they are not blatent, just some slight similarities. Great vocals, and some great playing as well. Rating 85/100"
- Ultima Comparatio

"Another fine Death Metal release from this growing US label, a little slower than Burial but still brutal and relentless Death Metal as the Americans are so good at. This CD have even been recorded at Morrisound Studios so do expect a killer sound here. You are dragged through ten tracks of unrelenting mayhem. I really like the changes between the almost doomy parts to the sudden extreme and ultra brutal parts, it gives the songs a life of its own. A real Death Metal experience is what we can categorize this album as. Can it get much better than this? Not really?..this is Death Metal supremacy and it seems as the Americans are the only one mastering this form of art really well."
- Oskorei #5 (NOR)