Redemption
This Mortal Coil

Some believe that man manages to bring out the best in himself precisely in the worst moments, in the most incredible difficulties, when despair and overwhelm seem to conquer everything. This was the case for Nicolas Van Dyk, guitarist, keyboardist, and mastermind of the American band Redemption. Fate had dealt him a "multiple myeloma," and many feared the worst, but Nick made it through, overcoming the toughest test and composing the most beautiful song, the song of life. But if many claim that in these situations all human artistry emerges, in this case, this does not seem to have happened.

The Californian band Redemption, always dedicated to a progressive metal influenced by bands such as Dream Theater, Symphony X, and Shadow Gallery, released "This Mortal Coil" in September of 2011. It is evident that Van Dyk's problem influenced the composition of the tracks because more so than in the past, the soul of this CD has an underlying veiled melancholy that is perceptible in various passages. A heavier sound but at the same time more heartfelt, more "personal" than the four works that preceded it. "Let it Rain" is the emblematic track of this shift (if we can call it that), although it is important to say that the sound architectures and the essence of Redemption remain technically tied to prog metal.

However, the reality tells us of an album split in half, two distinct parts in the second of which it seems that Redemption suddenly had a creative blackout. The first part of TMC is of excellent quality, with tracks where technique, melody, and power coexist wonderfully. This is the case with "Path of the Whirlwind", "Blink of an Eye", and "No Tickets to the Funeral", influenced by the problem that held Van Dyk prisoner. A song with dark tones, with a chorus veiled in melancholy. The long "Dreams of the Pit" also convinces, another perfectly balanced track, where all the band members demonstrate their undoubted abilities. Particular credit goes to the voice of Ray Alder, well able to "dampen" the soloistic urges of his buddies. Yet, after a truly excellent start, TMC falls into banality, with tracks lacking punch: leaving aside the already mentioned "Let it Rain", a truly noteworthy ballad, the rest seems to see ideas burst and hence come empty, sparkless songs like "Begin Again", "Stronger than Death", and "Perfect", which unfortunately are the negative "symptoms" of the record.

In conclusion, "This Mortal Coil" is not a true misstep because the two souls of the CD manage to more or less balance each other: flashes of class remain but one cannot believe that Redemption cannot do better than those definitively bad 3/4 songs that mark the course of the platter. From them, more is always and anyway expected, but "This Mortal Coil" can pass, just this once though...

1."Path Of The Whirlwind" (5:26)
2. "Blink Of An Eye" (5:57)
3. "No Tickets To The Funeral" (6:25)
4. "Dreams Of The Pit" (9:11)
5. "Noonday Devil" (5:03)
6. "Let It Rain" (7:21)
7. "Focus" (5:43)
8. "Perfect" (4:48)
9. "Begin Again" (6:11)
10. "Stronger Than Death" (5:29)
11. "Departure Of The Pale Horse" (10:14)