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April 2024

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[ More Music Reviews ]

Redemption: I Am The Storm

Progressive Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 07.03.2023 | Released: 17.03.2023

For most progressive music fans, Redemption needs little introduction. Hailing from Los Angeles and active since 2001, the band led by principal songwriter and guitarist Nick Van Dyck, has released seven albums over a fifteen year period. The last being 2018's Long Night's Journey Into Day. Now the sextet, which includes Evergrey vocalist Tom S Englund since 2017, returns with their latest and eighth long player, I Am The Storm. The album was preceded by the three song EP Remember The Dawn, which are included on the new album.

Cross Country Driver

Redemption has an established reputation for crafting American progressive power metal, but the nods to the European style are self-evident as well. Essentially, the band blends classic power metal with lightly technical arrangements that feature masterful musicianship, notably in the tag team interaction between synth and guitar solos. Additionally, the music also has a tone of melancholy and somberness which Englund's vocal style brings out quite well. But this reflects some of Van Dyck's lyrical themes. Wherein life is seen as a struggle with obstacles and pain, yet there is still hope, reward, and wonder to be found.

Speaking to some songs within, the album has a balance of shorter songs with lengthy ones that allow for more musical expression. Songs like Resilience, I Am The Storm, or Turn It On Again, on the shorter side, pack speed, heaviness, and punch while adding a rhythm of rock groove. Turn It On Again is a cover of the Genesis song. But no matter how many times I spinned it, I barely recognized it. Not even in the chorus, barely in the piano line (though it came through around three-quarters in).

On the longer side, Action At A Distance turns on a beefy and hustling rhythm section led by some tough bass. But the listener gets a respite at the midpoint for a dense and symphonic segue, then the riffs return as well as the bass line. Alternatively All This Time, moves more heavy and steady to start, hammering away as it goes along. At the same time, the arrangement also picks up the tempo, eventually throwing the listener into something heavy and fast. But then there's that segue again. This time it's classical piano, soft and compelling. Which gives way to rambunctious riffs and a blistering solo.

My digital copy included The Emotional Depiction Of Light and its remix as a bonus. The differences were not compelling. Your copy my include the bonus track, Red Rain, a cover of the Peter Gabriel song. All said, I Am The Storm finds the American metal band Redemption in fine form, delivering another satisfying album of their progressive power metal featuring strong song composition and masterful musicianship. Definitely recommended.

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I Am The Storm finds the American metal band Redemption in fine form, delivering another satisfying album of their progressive power metal featuring strong song composition and masterful musicianship. Definitely recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]

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