Beyond The Embrace � Insect Song the Hobo review

Beyond The Embrace � Insect Song 
Label: Metal Blade
Genre: Gothenburg Melodic Death/Thrash 
Fans Of: At The Gates, In Flames, Entombed, Opeth
Best Tracks: Fleshengine Breakdown, Redeemer
Rating: 

Beyond The Embrace made massive waves with their debut album �Against The Elements� back in 2002. Two years ago the band was young � but now after touring with the likes of Opeth, Helloween and Divine Empire, a more mature, confident and comfortable Beyond The Embrace have headed back into the studio to record their Metal Blade follow-up with producer Ken Susi (Unearth).

Beyond The Embrace have managed to breathe some new life into the Gothenburg death/thrash genre; sounding like a perfectly spliced mixture of And Justice For All�, At The Gates� untouchable Slaughter Of The Soul and the more credible early era of In Flames � thrash meets melodic death in an awesome wave of triple guitarwork.

It would seem that two guitars simply did not suffice for the band � so they decided to enlist a third. This was certainly not a fruitless decision. Gouveia (lead), Botelho and Saude are able to use their three guitars to create some awesome layering techniques � sometimes in the form of triple harmonic lead lines or deliciously complex layered thrash riffing.

The vocalist Shawn Gallagher is slightly reminiscent of Tomas Lindberg � but doesn�t let the vocal constraints of the genre inhibit him, often switching between more traditional hard rock singing and impressive death metal growls. For example in �Of Every Strain Gallagher almost flawlessly mimics the vocal style of Anders Friden, only to totally discard that style for the awesome metal anthem Redeemer.

Tracks such as Fleshengine Breakdown, Plague and Redeemer make the band stand in stark contrast to the masses of the mediocre � boasting complex arrangements, great songwriting and impressive guitarwork coupled with perfect production and execution. It�s almost as if Beyond The Embrace have taken the best elements of death metal and thrash � Opeth�s complexity and songwriting, At The Gates� powerful vocals and guitarwork, The Crown�s mid-tempo thrash grooves and Slayer�s layered dual harmonic leads � and fused them together to create something of death/thrash dreams.

Here�s to a new millennium band in this day and age who are still exploring the generic boundaries, implementing kick-ass lead lines, experimenting with foreign elements and still thrashing, grinding and grooving with the best of them. It would seem for once the swirling seas of hype surrounding this particular band are to be believed.

It�s no wonder they just scored a support gig for Iced Earth�s upcoming US tour � on top of their recent tour with Prong.

Cheers boys.