Embryo: Embryo

In recent months it feels as though the Italian rock and metal scene has begun to turn out as many new bands and releases as their more established Scandinavian cousins. Everything from AOR to industrial metal joining the more expected prog and symphonic offerings. With the third album from Embryo we step into the world of melodic death metal, this self titled effort doing a fine job of covering the spectrum this genre provides. Fronted by the ably growling, snarling and shouting Roberto Pasolini, "The Pursuit Of Silence" couldn't be a more contradictorily titled track if its life depended on it, a maelstrom of riffs positively tumbling forth as Pasolini uses his entire range to instil a real sense of character to proceedings. Washes of synths from Simone Solla build a wall of unsettling melody behind the six string assault from Eugenio Sambasile, bassist Nicola Iazzi surging into view in full fury. The drumming on the album is credited to Fleshgod Apocalypse sticksmith Francesco Paoli, the drummer who was billed as a guest on this album now seemingly having replaced Enea Passarella full time. I haven't heard his predecessor but on this evidence Embryo have picked up a drummer of real power and precision.

Highlights are spread liberally across the album, the title track a slow surge of force, "My Pounding Void" an altogether more ebullient beast, as Pasolini puts in one of his best vocal shifts and Sambasile offers a serious barrage of guitar. This is where Embryo work best and with the keys consistently providing counterbalance to the more expected brash and bluster, there's also real substance. Running at eleven tracks, there is at times a feeling of deja vu as you head towards the album's conclusion and while Embryo are no one trick pony, their reliance on similar structures from track to track detracts from the latter part of this release, consistently good though it is.

After two self released albums, there's a feeling that Embryo needed to really step up with this Atomic Stuff/logic[il]logic backed release. There's still an element of work to be done, but on the whole it's mission accomplished.

Track Listing
1. An Awkward Attempt
2. The Pursuit of Silence
3. Manipulate My Consciousness
4. Insane Lucidity
5. The End of the Beginning
6. Embryo
7. The Touch of Emptiness
8. The Door to the Abyss
9. My Pounding Void
10. Fragments of Utopia 
11. I Am Pure Hate

Added: June 30th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Embryo online
Hits: 1850
Language: english

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