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Beyond the Embrace
Insect Song
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If I remember correctly,
Massachusetts
six-piece Beyond the Embrace was the band I listened to a couple years ago based on a recommendation from someone saying they were the next best thing to
Sweden
’s Soilwork, who had just released one of the premier metal albums of the year in Natural Born Chaos. So naturally, my interest was piqued.
My opinion? Blah. What I’d heard from Against the Elements (2002) was all right, but that was it. Nothing stood out, nothing made me want to buy the album, or at least download it illegally off the internet. And that, as they say, was that.
So, we move ahead to 2004 and the band’s got a new album. Once again, I hear about how good it is and how I should check it out. All right, I’ll bite again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...?
It’s not as bad as that. Insect Song is a gritty, straightforward metal album that owes as much to southern rockers like Alabama Thunderpussy and Spiritual Beggars as they do to Gothenburg’s finest.
Songs like “Redeemer”, “Absent” and the title track are good, rocking tunes, showing a far more comfortable band this time around. Kevin Camille’s a solid workingman’s drummer and the guitars chug as well as solo nicely at some points. Yet I can’t understand why they need three of them. Personally, I don’t hear it. Still, though, it’s fairly enjoyable fare.
Unfortunately, a couple things hamper this album. The band still seems to be aping that Soilwork mojo a little too much. Closing track “Within”, ironically one of my preferred here, is blatant worship and nonsensical song titles like “Fleshengine Breakdown” have been Soilwork’s stock-in-trade forever.
Also, Ken Susi’s production is as dry as a mouthful of sandpaper in the desert, which does not lend itself well to Shawn Gallagher’s vocals. Growling, he’s fine, but his cleans are really rough around the edges. Maybe in time they’ll improve, but not yet.
I do feel positive about the band, though. I'd only heard a couple of songs from Against the Elements and had no real urge to pursue them further. On Insect Song, they give me more reasons to be interested. As Long as they decide not to renew their Soilwork Fan Club memberships next year, I think Beyond the Embrace is bound to come into their own next time around.
Track Listing:
Fleshengine Breakdown / Plague / My Fall / ...Of Every Stain / Redeemer / Insect Song / Ashes / Weak and the Wounded / Absent / Within.
Beyond the Embrace:
Shawn Gallagher - Vocals / Keyboards
Oscar Gouveia - Lead, Harmony, and Acoustic Guitars
Jeff Saude - Harmony & Rhythm Guitars
Alex Botelho - Rhythm, Harmony & Acoustic Guitars
Chris Parlon - Bass
Kevin Camille - Drums
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