REDEMPTION (USA)

(UNITED STATES)

I AM THE STORM

(2023)
LABEL:

AFM RECORDS

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE METAL

TAGS:
Rasping vocals, Technical
"With "I Am The Storm", Redemption does not revolutionize the genre but gives its fans a solid progressive metal album in the purest tradition of the 2000s."
PROGRACER (15.03.2023)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
"I Am The Storm" is Redemption's eighth studio album in a little over 20 years of career. It's also the second to see Tom Englund (Evergrey) on the mic - who succeeded Ray Alder (Fates Warning), who had been with the band since the beginning - after "Long Night's Journey Into Day", which kept the band's musical identity.

The first two tracks, with their fast tempos, jerky riffs and twirling soli, are typical of Redemption and make it easy to recognize Nick Van Dyk's writing. If 'Seven Minutes From Sunset' suffers from a lack of bite and catchiness, due to a rather average mix, things change quickly with 'Remember The Dawn', a track close to Dream Theater which brings back to the first Redemption albums with its convoluted intro and its multiple riffs and developments, before really starting after two minutes in a typical progressive metal of the band.

The band then alternates between long progressive pieces such as 'Action At A Distance' with its numerous developments, rhythmic breaks and theme repeats, in a typical progressive metal vein of the 2000s, and 'All This Time (And Not Enough)' with a rougher and more progressive feel. Close but not similar, both tracks show that Van Dyk is not short of inspiration. They sweep through a range of melodic moods (the chorus of 'Action At A Distance'), sometimes unbridled as on the excellent 'All This Time', the progressive peak of the album.

The rest of the album brings an interesting flow of variety like the ballad 'The Emotional Depiction of Light' split in two parts, 'Turn It On Again' with its heavy and aggressive riff and its melodic pop digressions, or the nice cover of Peter Gabriel's 'Red Rain', faithfully transcribed with the rhythmic codes of progressive metal a la Redemption.

Paradoxically, it's Tom Englund's overall performance that disappoints a little, especially in the highest parts where he shows some limits that are circumvented by some clumsy head voice effects. We were entitled to expect a little more than just beautiful melodies from a singer of his calibre. 

If "I Am The Storm" doesn't revolutionize progressive metal, it contributes to give back its letters of nobility to a fringe of this genre very anchored in the 2000s, at a time when Dream Theater, Vanden Pas, Fates Warning and... Redemption were the masters. Nick Van Dyk's creative mastery, the heart put in the interpretation and in a flawless production bring a real pleasure of immediate listening, making this "I Am The Storm" a very good album intended for traditional progressive metal fans.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. I Am The Storm
02. Seven Minutes From Sunset
03. Remember The Dawn
04. The Emotional Depiction Of Light
05. Resilience
06. Action At A Distance
07. Turn It On Again
08. All This Time (and Not Enough)
09. The Emotional Depiction Of Light (Remix)
10. Red Rain
11. The Pearl Clutchers (vinyl Bonus Track - Feat. Chris Poland)
12. The Far Side Of The Clouds (vinyl Bonus Track - Feat. Henrik Danhage)

LINEUP:
Chris Quirarte: Batterie
Nicolas Van Dyk: Guitares / Claviers
Sean Andrews: Basse
Tom Englund: Chant
Vikram Shankar: Claviers
   
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READERS
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