Search - Beyond the Embrace :: Against the Elements

Embrace another of American Metal's Next Generation

E. Peltier | North Arlington, New Jersey United States | 09/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Beyond any element of expectation that American metal might be outdated, Beyond the
Embrace harken back to the bygone era of true-to-form progressive thrash while carving
their own niche against the grain of new millennium metal.BTE's MetalBlade record's debut has the feel sonically of a glorified demo tape while
comprised of ten tracks of musical excellence, which effectively combine the elements of
old school speed metal and the modern melodic death metal ideal with progressivemusicianship. In just a matter of the first three cuts alone, one can experience the full
breath of potential BTE have to offer.It is not just biting off the bone of either the Gothenburg, Sweden metal scene or the elder
statesmen from the Bay Area metal which makes BTE notable. It is the simple fact that
they have embellished, quite successfully mind you, on both concepts to create something
that is as much akin to the new-school of underground extremity embodied by the current
New England scene as it is uniquely their own orientation of originality.The instrumental dynamics find the band moving from quiet, classically inspired, acoustic
passages to blisteringly bombastic, technically proficient passages in one sweeping stride
and setting up blazingly caustic chaos capable of melting into memorably melodic metallic
passages. Vocally, the contrast is equally as impressive, with aural imagery from eating-glass
guttural girth to a more rock radio friendly serenade. As a matter of fact, the overall
execution on the first three tracks alone, paired with the masterful writing and
musicianship underneath, fully demonstrate beyond the shadow of a doubt Shawn
Gallagher's potential.The downside to the MetalBlade record's debut is the lack of production overall, as some
of the levels feel a tad unbalanced and devoid of the sonic wash necessary to really move
speaker cones. However, the ideas more that carry through the near demo qualityrecording.Battle against all the elements of psuedo-metal musicianship and embrace the beginning of
BTE's career as they look to establish themselves among the new wave of American metal
mavens."