Beyond the Embrace - Insect Song
Metalblade Records - 2004
By Adam McAuley
Once confronted with the gravely vocals and thrashy riffs of track one, "Fleshengine Breakdown", you might want to throw this band into the category of a modern Metallica. This, however, isn't the case with Beyond the Embrace, but it remains very difficult to put them into a proper category. Sometimes they remain melodic and straightforward, but at other times they verge into the abrasive realms of hardcore.
The same can be said of Shawn Gallagher's vocals. At times, he gruffly sings in a James Hetfield type way, at others in an Anders Friden melo-death manner and finally occasionally with hardcorish bellows. The verse sections often lead to explosions that emanate only in the chorus', which are easily the most interesting part of the first half of the album. Tension begins to build part way through, however. Songs become longer, more varied and sound completely realized.
"Redeemer" is the first such example, it slows down and builds up into a layered and interesting climax. "Absent", the second-to-last track, follows suit, and leads into the catchy closer "Within", which features an array of catchy and melodic dual leads.
So, overall, Beyond the Embrace throw in enough small dynamic changes and even song-style variations to maintain interest, but the fact remains that a good portion of Insect Song is very samey sounding, and does little to distance the band from the pack. It is enjoyable, but doesn't go that extra two inches to really grab you and not let go. Perhaps if they focused primarily on one of their styles and built upon it, they'd be successful and carve a more specific niche, because they certainly have the talent and ability to push themselves up a couple of levels.
6.5/10
Official Metalblade Records website
Official Beyond The Embrace Website
Metalblade Records - 2004
By Adam McAuley
Once confronted with the gravely vocals and thrashy riffs of track one, "Fleshengine Breakdown", you might want to throw this band into the category of a modern Metallica. This, however, isn't the case with Beyond the Embrace, but it remains very difficult to put them into a proper category. Sometimes they remain melodic and straightforward, but at other times they verge into the abrasive realms of hardcore.
The same can be said of Shawn Gallagher's vocals. At times, he gruffly sings in a James Hetfield type way, at others in an Anders Friden melo-death manner and finally occasionally with hardcorish bellows. The verse sections often lead to explosions that emanate only in the chorus', which are easily the most interesting part of the first half of the album. Tension begins to build part way through, however. Songs become longer, more varied and sound completely realized.
"Redeemer" is the first such example, it slows down and builds up into a layered and interesting climax. "Absent", the second-to-last track, follows suit, and leads into the catchy closer "Within", which features an array of catchy and melodic dual leads.
So, overall, Beyond the Embrace throw in enough small dynamic changes and even song-style variations to maintain interest, but the fact remains that a good portion of Insect Song is very samey sounding, and does little to distance the band from the pack. It is enjoyable, but doesn't go that extra two inches to really grab you and not let go. Perhaps if they focused primarily on one of their styles and built upon it, they'd be successful and carve a more specific niche, because they certainly have the talent and ability to push themselves up a couple of levels.
6.5/10
Official Metalblade Records website
Official Beyond The Embrace Website
