[Embodyment]'s latest LP shows fierce strength and strong conviction as hardcore collides with soulful emo head on in a fight to the finish. The groups sound leaves the listener in suspense, akin to the expectation of the impact of a bag full of unknown objects, whether its full of bricks and knocks you back into the wall, or full of feathers and wraps around you, it will still have an effect and invoke feeling in its victim. Disjointed hardcore breaks loose from a emocore/hard rock landscape to rake the ground with unbridled fury as rich audio environments nurture it back to health. Vocally, the band spills out husky voiced croons and gripping emotional melodies drawn out to their full potential with enveloping sonic ability. Although this alone would make for a satisfying contribution, they can suddenly veer off without warning, plunging into turbulent hardcore styled screams that can bring to minds acts like Vision Of Disorder. Dense with melody and vehement with aggression the vocal aspect of this CD is gracefully skilled and features a supportive backing vocal section that makes the verbal element included a highlight of the talent possessed by this act. Guitars are dynamic and filled with range as they dash through violent chunky riffs ripe with distortion or sway through clean toned harmonies that can at times even involve acoustic tones. Like a calm before the storm the riffs support the vocals and enchant with a humble playing style that melts in with the other instruments and lashes out only when necessary. Bass hums out growly notes that are slightly downtuned and keep an acute focus to the song structure while locking in tightly with the drums as both instruments almost synchronize their fills together to craft a thick plated lowend. Drums punch out an array of beats that compensate for the ample breathing room left in each track, a dull snare and a hammering kick drum come flush with feeling and involve the whole kit whether it be a rumbling off key pattern or dead on highhat filled flurry, the attention to detail and eager tom usage creates an enjoyable percussive venture. The groups strength's lie within their ability to construct songs that engulf the listener with subtle harmonics and cavernous depth, yet still manage not to sell themselves short or sound like art rock. A fresh progressive outlook is taken on a hardcore and emo styled vein of music as they combine it with modern influences and dislocate each ingredient to come up with clever shifts and surprising aggravated bursts. But even though the band succeed on most of the goals of what they have set out to accomplish on this album, there's a few things that can weigh the CD down as a whole, the most prevalent of which is probably the tendency for each track to almost stick to a certain formula that isn't modified much, causing the tracks to slowly begin to fade into each other. Some drastic variation or more experimental textural sounds could easily shape the group up into something twice as impressive as the performance captured here. [Embodyment] definitely don't have a narrow view on genre's, as they take hardcore and emo to new levels infusing them with soulful croons and passionate overtones, but perhaps the scope of what they are comfortable playing and writing could use a bit more range.
(4 / 5)