:: Redemption - The Origins Of Ruin

Redemption

When Los Angeles-based progressive metal act Redemption released its sophomore effort ‘The Fullness Of Time’ a couple of years ago, the album immediately garnished critical acclaim from the progressive metal scene (as did lead/rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and sole songwriter Nick Van Dyk), and earned itself a placing amongst many reviewers top ten lists in 2005. The success of that record didn’t go unnoticed amongst industry types either, with Inside Out Music offering the six-piece act a multi-album deal following the completion of their contractual obligations to Sensory Records, which now leads us to their highly anticipated first offering for the label in ‘The Origins Of Ruin’. On a cursory listen, there’s perhaps not a lot of difference between ‘The Fullness Of Time’ and ‘The Origins Of Ruin’, but with repeated listens, the subtle differences between the two become evident, with Redemption showing a growing sense of confidence and progression from past accomplishments. With a stable line-up now in place, Redemption now seems comfortable to push the melodic aspect of the music alongside the previously known aspect of the musicians capabilities, which is more than evident in the opening thrash like number ‘The Suffocating Silence’. The stunning melodies and emotive vocals are as impressive as they have ever been, but it’s also the keyboards, the extensive solo work and stunning drum fills providing hidden highlights within the frantically paced seven minute introductory to the album.

Tommy Newton’s production beautifully emphasises the light and dark elements that make up the follow up track ‘Bleed Me Dry’, while the shorter and far more direct sounding ‘The Death Of Faith And Reason’ is filled with huge grooves and thick guitar tones, which only broadens the familiar Redemption sound. Alder absolutely shines on the atmospheric keyboard/drum accompanied title track ‘The Origins Of Ruin’, while ‘Man Of Glass’, the slower paced ‘Blind My Eyes’ and the stunning ‘Used To Be’ again take a far more direct approach, with the progressive side of the band stripped back to make way for a rawer rock-like sound. Finishing up the album is the towering ‘Fall On You’, where Redemption really allows the full spectrum of its sound to shine. Redemption impresses me with ‘The Fullness Of Time’, but they truly won me over on ‘The Origins Of Ruin’. Although it’s only mid way through 2007, I have little doubt that Redemption’s ‘The Origins Of Ruin’ will sit somewhere in my top ten progressive album’s of this year alongside Theshold’s ‘Reckoning Day’. If not, they’ll definitely be sharing the number one slot.