CD Review: Redemption “This Mortal Coil”

Redemption
“This Mortal Coil”
Inside Out Music
Producer: Neil Kernon
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 3 out of 5

“This Mortal Coil” is the 7th release by the progressive metal band Redemption. The band features Nick van Dyk , Bernie Versailles, Sean Andrews, Chris Quirarte and former Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder. “This Mortal Coil” is being released via Inside Out Music and is the bands follow up release to their 2009 album titled “Snowfall on Judgment Day”. “This Mortal Coil” features 11 new progressive metal tracks produced by legendary producer Neil Kernon.

“This Mortal Coil” at first seemed like just another progressive heavy metal release. However after researching the album further and reading that prior to the recording of the album guitarist/keyboardist Nick van Dyk was diagnosed with blood cancer and given only a few years to live made me dig a little deeper into the songs. Tracks such as “No Tickets to the Funeral” and “Let it Rain” seem to speak volumes about what was going through Nick’s mind during the writing of the album. “This Mortal Coil” contains some really solid playing and appears to be the bands strongest album yet. A personal favorite of mine was the song “Dreams from the Pit”.  Clocking in at just over 9 minutes the track has an immensely dark and eerie feeling combined with blazing guitar passages that just wowed me from start to finish.

Redemptions newest album “This Mortal Coil” is easily the bands best work yet. The album seems to have a little something for everyone. Even if you are not a heavy metal fan or are just looking to test the waters of progressive metal listening pick up Redemptions “This Mortal Coil”!  I can almost guarantee that you will become an instant fan of the band and the progressive metal genre.

Track Listing:
1.)    Path of the Whirlwind
2.)    Blink of an Eye
3.)    No Tickets to the Funeral
4.)    Dreams from the Pit
5.)    Noonday Devil
6.)    Let it Rain
7.)    Focus
8.)    Perfect
9.)    Begin Again
10.)  Stronger Than Death
11.)  Departure of the Pale Horse