Beyond the Embrace--Against the Elements

Beyond the Embrace--Against the Elements (2002/Metal Blade) Rating--8.6

Beyond the Embrace is a melodic death/black band from Massachusetts comprised of six guys with an average age around 24. "Against the Elements" is the band's debut, and let's get one thing straight right now: these guys can friggin' play. This debut crackles and smokes, showing flashes of Arch Enemy and In Flames, some Testament-like thrashing, and guitar lead work that's reminiscent of Iron Maiden. Vocally you have about 70% Death and 30% clean. Most of the tracks mix the two styles (very effectively), and that in-and-of itself gives the band an element that most others in the genre do not possess. The clean vocals bring to mind mid-80s Hetfield and early '90s Pepper Keenan (COC).
Oh, and did I mention the band incorporates a three-guitar attack? Yep. All of which come together to churn out some tasty and razor-sharp pieces.
Opener "Bastard Screams" has some good tempo-shifing, and the solid flow of "Mourning in Magenta" follows.
A number of tracks are simply strong and solid fare: "Release," "The Bending Sea," "Embers Astray," "Against the Elements," and the nasty "Compass. "Drowning Sun" is a mood instrumental in the classic Metallica style, and the band closes the disc with another music-only offering, "The Riddle of Steel". This one features Maiden lead runs layered over biting, sharp grooves.
This is a band that has all the correct components to make some extremely big waves in their genre. A very solid release.
TRACK LIST: Bastard Screams/Mourning in Magenta/Compass/Rapture/Drowning Sun/Against the Elements/Release/The Bending Sea/Embers Astray/The Riddle of Steel

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