Review of Redemption - Redemption

Sometimes a band really gets on your nerves for seemingly no reason at all. Such was the case with Redemption. At first glance, they’re a very generic progressive metal band. If you were to hear one track, you would probably forget it immediately and think nothing of it. However, if you heard a whole album, you would be severely annoyed, almost to the point of hatred. There was just something about this band that rubbed me the wrong way, and I shall explain what those things were. If power metal is going to be put down for the cheese factor, then progressive metal’s mane put-down would have to be the SAP factor. There is just so much sappy prog metal out there, it’s sickening. This holds very true with Redemption, I feel like I just chopped down a dozen redwood trees. My god the sappiness! All of the songs are about good vs. evil and god’s power or something of equal sappiness. Now, if these lame stories were at least told by the right storyteller, it would’ve been bearable. Unfortunately, the singer of Redemption (Rick Mythiasin, also of Steel Prophet) is massively annoying! He’s just so damn whiny, like a 12-year-old wannabe Bruce Dickinson. He’s the kind of singer you just want to grab by the balls with pliers and yell “SHUT UP!”. He’s the reason I don’t like Steel Prophet, and now he’s the reason I don’t like Redemption. Redemption isn’t all bad, though. There is some pretty badass keyboarding going on, and as with all power or progressive metal, the guitar solos are pretty cool. Guitar duties are handled by Bernie Versailles (Engine, Order of the Illuminati, Fates Warning) and Nick Van Dyk. Of course the drumming is dead-on, seeing as Symphony X drummer Jason Rullo is on the kit. But even that is not enough to overshadow the sappy singing. Nothing about the music slaps me in the face and yells “HEY!”. There’s not much substance here, just an over-abundance of generic riffs and melodies. There’s not much reason to buy this album, I’m afraid. I’m sure SOMEONE will like it, since there is so much boring prog out there. I mean someone has to be buying it, otherwise I’d imagine the never-ending flow of shitprog would cease. So if you want to contribute to the non-stop outpouring of progressive boredom, then go ahead and buy Redemption’s self-titled album. Otherwise, save your money.

Release Details

Redemption

Redemption

Comments

Related