Review by Tomek on February 9, 2017.

Embrional is one of those bands that I’ve known about for a long time and yet never got around to actually check out to what they have to offer. The time has come and here I go - listening to their 2014 release called Annihilation 2007 + Live, which is their second demo from 2007 released by Polish label Old Temple with addition of 8 live tracks from the 2013 show in Poland’s Bielsko-Biala.  Original demo artwork is a tad different then what we can see over here but it’s updated and all made for the better. There is also a bunch of photographs from live shows included in the booklet and original demo lyrics, making it a full package release for any diehard fan that was missing it in their collections.

First thing that I’ve noticed was the sound of this material. For those of you that remember “demo” days I probably don’t need to explain it much, and as for the rest of you - this is something that you may need to discover on your own. I believe that it is an important part of what was giving most bands their own character and is sadly missing for the most part in the scene nowadays. I am talking about the sound of the band that was created by the band. Not just by instruments they were playing at the time but also equipment they were using and, most important, the sound of their practice room or garage or drummer’s bedroom that was used for practice purposes. Annihilation puts such sound in my speakers and takes me back in time to the era of tape trading and bands recording everything on their own. Embrional recorded the demo themselves, mixed and mastered and all that. Amateurish as it sounds it also shows the passion for the music and will to do anything just to be out there with their material and fulfill their dreams of getting noticed.

Material presented here has a good, original sound that’s quite clear and relatively strong. Most of the songs are fast and punishing, showing lots of promise in departments of arrangement and composition; and lots of fury in the department of everything else.  Six songs bring plenty of speed and relentless attack but there are also quite surprisingly few moments of melodic calm and slow crushing heaviness. There are a few solos that are simply chaotic but very fitting in all the controlled insanity that the band presents. Vocal department is represented well, and considering that this is a demo only, it leaves a lasting impression. All in all, Annihilation is a great material and it is worth checking out by anybody that wishes some brutal death metal punishment on themselves.

Bonus live tracks (eight of them to be exact) are a vicious representation of the band with all the dirt and grime that comes with playing a live show. All the good and the bad are left untouched and for an actual live show recording the quality is rather good. Embrional comes off as high energy and high speed live band, and going through some pictures in the booklet and listening to the performance makes me appreciate the talent that those guys show with even more enthusiasm.

My introduction to Embrional was sonically fulfilling and I cannot believe it took me such a long time to get around to listen to them. They got some full length albums out there and my plan is to check them all out. Annihilation was a good start and I recommend that one to all that don’t know it, as for me - I’m getting their first album into my rotation and you’ll hear from me soon.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by JD on July 23, 2013.

I have always supported all Canadian Metal, and always will. It then pains me greatly if I find a band that I can’t throw my support behind, even though they fly the maple leaf proudly. The Orchid’s Curse is a band based in Nova Scotia and sadly is one of the few after they had put out a previous album that kicked ass, and then they did another one.

Playing a mixture of Melodic Death Metal, Groove and Metalcore, the band seems willing to go to extremes in the musical end of things– and I liked that on the last album I had reviewed from them ("Voices: Tales Of A Broken Man"). I liked so much that I gave them a 9.4. I wished for those days for them. The newer album seems to be a pale reflection of this band, even though there is some shading of brilliance there.

The last album was full of lyrical introspection and this air of wisdom that perfectly aligned itself with the powerful music that partnered with every syllable spat – this was more of what made The Orchid’s Curse so good. On "Words", it seemed like they try to keep that angle going, but they lost the mark somewhere. Musically crushing, the lyrics are sometimes muddled in its message, tending to lose its punch. They have a strong message, they dropped the ball here.

Still enjoying the strong music of The Orchid’s Curse, I see greatness still happening for them. The lyrics on the other hand, need something different. Not with the message they try to bring, just how it is delivered. Words are a strong way of getting your soul across to the masses, but if they come out confused – then you have a serious problem.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 8
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by Adam M on November 26, 2018.

Redemption performs the progressive metal genre to its fullest extent.  The use of sweet melodies might tie this to the power metal genre as well, but I believe the album is fully rooted in the progressive metal genre.  The songs are complex and feature a nice amount of guitar interplay. This is similar to what Dream Theater does, for sure, but it’s different enough to have it’s own identity.

One notable feature with the album is Evergrey’s Tom Englund joining as the vocalist over the previous classic one Ray Alder.  Both of these singers are top notch and bring their own style to the table, it’s just that when Tom is singing the music is closer to Evergrey and when Ray is singing the music is closer to Fates Warning.  Either way, there are lots of keyboards to make things more progressive sounding atop the chaotic guitar riffing.  There are sections that might be overindulgent, but are kept in check with restrained song-writing.  Still, the music is a bit too similar to other artists for this to be the perfect progressive metal record.  The band is able to somewhat craft their own identity, but not fully.  If you’re a fan of Dream Theater styled progressive metal, this will be right up your alley. 

The album is rather long and definitely delivers a lot of material to the listener.  The change of vocalists means this is sort of a fresh take for the band as well as they evolve nicely.  If one can get over the fact that similar music has been done before and slightly better, there are plenty of reasons to sink your teeth into Long Night’s Journey Into Day.  The combination of complexity and melody works really well for the band and leads to standout songs across the board.  It’s not revolutionary, but it is a solid and well executed progressive album.

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by JD on December 21, 2017.

I was intrigued when seeing this album came my way.  This demo styled EP has only two songs on it, each clocking in at a whopping eleven minutes plus in playing time... needless to say that I was more than a little stunned at this format.  I started to think as I dove into study the band that this Netherlands based group seemed to be truly something that would be out of the ordinary.

Upon hearing the EP, I was struck by how different this band really was, making me think  back to the SpineFarm Records artists Sick.  This is a band that is hard to pinpoint into any sort of classification you can come up with.  I hear influences of doom metal running around with hardcore, noise core and even some growling death metal styled vocals and all with what could be explained as an apocalyptic progressiveness to it all. Izah seemed to have gloriously mixed this entire hodgepodge of variety together and come up with something original.

Lumbering explosion seemed to be the way to express the music of this six member band.  It had such a distinctive sound to it, you could coin the phrase avant-garde metal for the way it is delivered with such precision yet still having it be monstrously heavy while still staying accessible in some ways. Izah are these amazing musicians, ones that certainly will raise a few eyebrows as they continue to polish their style even further to punish us with savage heaviness.

I loved the small album just because of the fact that it was very different yet so damned heavy. I can’t say that it would have any commercial appeal in the long run, the world is just not ready for a band quite like this I guess. Just pick up the EP, and make up your own mind up.  I did. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by JD on December 21, 2017.

I was intrigued when seeing this album came my way.  This demo styled EP has only two songs on it, each clocking in at a whopping eleven minutes plus in playing time... needless to say that I was more than a little stunned at this format.  I started to think as I dove into study the band that this Netherlands based group seemed to be truly something that would be out of the ordinary.

Upon hearing the EP, I was struck by how different this band really was, making me think  back to the SpineFarm Records artists Sick.  This is a band that is hard to pinpoint into any sort of classification you can come up with.  I hear influences of doom metal running around with hardcore, noise core and even some growling death metal styled vocals and all with what could be explained as an apocalyptic progressiveness to it all. Izah seemed to have gloriously mixed this entire hodgepodge of variety together and come up with something original.

Lumbering explosion seemed to be the way to express the music of this six member band.  It had such a distinctive sound to it, you could coin the phrase avant-garde metal for the way it is delivered with such precision yet still having it be monstrously heavy while still staying accessible in some ways. Izah are these amazing musicians, ones that certainly will raise a few eyebrows as they continue to polish their style even further to punish us with savage heaviness.

I loved the small album just because of the fact that it was very different yet so damned heavy. I can’t say that it would have any commercial appeal in the long run, the world is just not ready for a band quite like this I guess. Just pick up the EP, and make up your own mind up.  I did. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by JD on December 21, 2017.

I was intrigued when seeing this album came my way.  This demo styled EP has only two songs on it, each clocking in at a whopping eleven minutes plus in playing time... needless to say that I was more than a little stunned at this format.  I started to think as I dove into study the band that this Netherlands based group seemed to be truly something that would be out of the ordinary.

Upon hearing the EP, I was struck by how different this band really was, making me think  back to the SpineFarm Records artists Sick.  This is a band that is hard to pinpoint into any sort of classification you can come up with.  I hear influences of doom metal running around with hardcore, noise core and even some growling death metal styled vocals and all with what could be explained as an apocalyptic progressiveness to it all. Izah seemed to have gloriously mixed this entire hodgepodge of variety together and come up with something original.

Lumbering explosion seemed to be the way to express the music of this six member band.  It had such a distinctive sound to it, you could coin the phrase avant-garde metal for the way it is delivered with such precision yet still having it be monstrously heavy while still staying accessible in some ways. Izah are these amazing musicians, ones that certainly will raise a few eyebrows as they continue to polish their style even further to punish us with savage heaviness.

I loved the small album just because of the fact that it was very different yet so damned heavy. I can’t say that it would have any commercial appeal in the long run, the world is just not ready for a band quite like this I guess. Just pick up the EP, and make up your own mind up.  I did. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by JD on December 21, 2017.

I was intrigued when seeing this album came my way.  This demo styled EP has only two songs on it, each clocking in at a whopping eleven minutes plus in playing time... needless to say that I was more than a little stunned at this format.  I started to think as I dove into study the band that this Netherlands based group seemed to be truly something that would be out of the ordinary.

Upon hearing the EP, I was struck by how different this band really was, making me think  back to the SpineFarm Records artists Sick.  This is a band that is hard to pinpoint into any sort of classification you can come up with.  I hear influences of doom metal running around with hardcore, noise core and even some growling death metal styled vocals and all with what could be explained as an apocalyptic progressiveness to it all. Izah seemed to have gloriously mixed this entire hodgepodge of variety together and come up with something original.

Lumbering explosion seemed to be the way to express the music of this six member band.  It had such a distinctive sound to it, you could coin the phrase avant-garde metal for the way it is delivered with such precision yet still having it be monstrously heavy while still staying accessible in some ways. Izah are these amazing musicians, ones that certainly will raise a few eyebrows as they continue to polish their style even further to punish us with savage heaviness.

I loved the small album just because of the fact that it was very different yet so damned heavy. I can’t say that it would have any commercial appeal in the long run, the world is just not ready for a band quite like this I guess. Just pick up the EP, and make up your own mind up.  I did. 

Rating: 9 out of 10