This Mortal Coil - Redemption - 2011

[Iceni]

I've been waiting to do this review for a while. Redemption is my favorite progressive metal band because they do just about everything right. Their earlier material has a lot of long songs, but later, they interspersed some shorter tracks. The earliest album I bought material from was The Origins of Ruin, which had the characteristically well-written lyrics that Redemption makes so well. Later, they released the highly acclaimed Snowfall On Judgment Day, which had even more awesomeness crammed into it. The song 'Walls' remains one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard and remains one of my favorite songs. So it was a shock when I found out that Nick van Dyk, the man behind the music (he writes the lyrics, plays guitar and keyboards), was ill with a rare form of blood cancer. However, it looked like Redemption was going to release a new album. Van Dyk said that it was highly influenced by his precarious condition, especially in the lyrics. I figured van Dyk's musical thoughts on death would be great, so I snapped up the album when I got a chance. It doesn't disappoint. The album begins with 'Path Of The Whirlwind'. This isn't a bad song, but it begins the album with a guitar riff and then gets the song going. Some of the riffs in this one seem simple; it would have best been left until a bit before the halfway mark. The next track, 'In The Blink Of An Eye' is much more how I would have liked the album to begin. An eerie keyboard intro, then a great bass line, which leads into the main riff. The song is pummeling as well, which would have made it a great beginning song. After this we get one of the best ones on the whole album. It's 6:30 and well worth that time. 'No Tickets To The Funeral' starts well, and seems like an urgent track that wants to race through some progressive composition. But when we get to the chorus, the song slows down and takes its time. And it is a GREAT chorus, with excellent lyrics and wonderful melody. Then there’s another one of the longer songs, ‘Dreams From The Pit’, which evokes the same quiet urgency that was on The Origins Of Ruin had. It reflects on a man reflecting that he has doubts about what lies beyond- whether he will be punished or not. It worries him that right at the cusp of death he has nothing with which to assuage his regret over all of the wrong things he did. Pretty interesting bass line on this one as well. ‘Noonday Devil’ is probably my favorite track off of this album. Van Dyk said this was one of the heavier songs on the album. That’s exactly why I love it so much. It starts with a great, eerie spoken word intro by a demon’s voice, which leads into a bit of shredding which then get launched into a powerful punch of guitar and bass. Afterward we get a really unique piano melody, which is this discordant eldritch plunking, but it totally works. The song stays nice and heavy all the way through and the chorus is classic Redemption. It is about fighting off hopelessness. Van Dyk says: "As part of ‘This Mortal Coil’, all of which represents reflections on mortality, Noonday Devil’ is the point at which we decide to dig in and kick this specter of doubt in the teeth. It's one of the most in-your-face songs we've ever done, with musical energy that matches the determination in the lyrics." The next track, ‘Let It Rain’, is a slower song and not quite as heavy as the others, but it is still good. It’s a hopeful song, which represents someone attaining the maturity to understand that death is unavoidable, but the time we have on earth is worth fighting to keep, and that we should focus on doing right while we are here. I decided to buy it for that reason, not because it’s a real headbanging song. 'Focus' is next and it too has well-written lyrics. It's just heavy enough to be good, but it's a slower-paced one about regret. We are then treated to some of the best usage of keyboards and atmosphere I've ever heard. It evokes a sense of longing, apprehension and slight hope, leading nicely into the guitar part. The song is also thoughtful and slower-paced. 'Stronger Than Death' picks up the pace for us, giving a quicker guitar part a bit reminiscent of 'Walls' from Snowfall On Judgment Day. It also represents beating the hopelessness of being afflicted with a disease and perhaps not being afraid of dying. This is definitely a well-though out album. It's not Nevermore or Symphony X, so don't expect to get walloped with unrelenting heaviness at every turn. Nevertheless, you will find great lyrics and composition throughout. If you're a prog metal fan and you want a to hear a band dealing with an important and difficult subject, definitely pick up this album. It's well worth it.