Overview
www.ALLMUSIC.com - webzine - International - 3.5 / 5
www.ANTENNA.nu - webzine - Denmark - 5 / 6
www.DIGITAL-STEEL.com - webzine - Holland - 100 / 100
www.GOTHTRONIC.com - webzine - Holland - 9 / 10
www.HARDCORESOUNDS.net - webzine - USA - 4 / 5
www.HEAVYMETAL.ABOUT.com - webzine - USA - 3.5 / 5
www.IMHOTEP.no - webzine - International - 6 / 6
www.LORDSOFMETAL.nl - webzine - Holland - 67 / 100
www.MARIOSMETALMANIA.com - webzine - Holland - 80 / 100
www.METALCDRATINGS.com - webzine - USA - 4 / 5
www.METAL-OBSERVER.com - webzine - International - 9 / 10
www.METAL-TEMPLE.com - webzine - International - 4 / 5
www.METALZONE.gr - webzine - Greece - 90 / 100
www.MUSICWAVES.fr - webzine - France - 8.5 / 10
www.MYGLOBALMIND.info - webzine - USA - 4.5 / 5
www.POWEROFMETAL.dk - webzine - Denmark - 97 / 100
www.REVELATIONZ.net - webzine - Denmark - 9 / 10 (album of the month)
www.SEAOFTRANQUILITY.com - webzine - USA - 5 / 5
www.SOUNDSCAPEOFTHINKINGPATTERNS.blogspot.com - webzine - USA - no rating
www.SPUTNIKMUSIC.com - webzine - USA - 3.5 / 5
www.STATICMULTIMEDIA.com - webzine - USA - 3 / 4
www.TEETHOFTHEDIVINE.com - webzine - USA - no rating
www.THERIGHTTOROCK.com - webzine - USA - 4 / 5
www.YTSEJAM.com - webzine - USA - 5 / 5
Read Reviews
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Greg Prato - www.ALLMUSIC.com - webzine - International - 3.5 out of 5 points
When your band contains instrumentalists who have previously been spotted strutting their stuff in the likes of Fates Warning and Prymary, you know that the "prog metal quotient" is going to be quite high. And that certainly proves to be the case with the fifth release overall by Redemption, 2009's Snowfall on Judgement Day. Added to all the chop-heavy metal is a heavy '80s metal vibe -- due to all the Maiden-esque guitar harmonies, thrash metal guitar chugging, and -- of course -- the unmistakable vocals of Ray Alder (who has been manning the mike for Fates Warning since 1988). Cases in point include such technically demanding ditties as "Walls" and "Black and White World." And for anyone doubting how "prog" Snowfall on Judgement Day is, a guest spot by Dream Theater's longtime vocalist James LaBrie (on the track "Another Day Dies") should silence any doubters.
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Allan Johansson - www.ANTENNA.nu - webzine - Denmark - 5 out of 6 points
Vi kender det alle. Ventetiden, den ulidelige utålmodighed, der nager én ugen op til hvor abstinenserne er totale, og de daglige besøg på MySpace kan ikke tælles på to hænder.
Sådan havde jeg det nogenlunde i forbindelse med Redemptions seneste udgivelse Snowfall on Judgement Day. Det var af flere årsager; dels er det én af mine absolutte favoritter på vokalen personificeret ved Ray Alder. Geniet, der har stået i front for et af vor tids største og vigtigste progressive bands, nemlig Fates Warning. Dernæst har jeg været temmelig begejstret for bandets tidligere udgivelser, men nogle gange føler man også bare, at der kan være tale om noget helt specielt. Det er, som regel, her det hele står eller falder, for indimellem kan forventningerne være så høje, at albummet kun kan skuffe, og det var min største frygt i forbindelse med denne udgivelse.
Lad det være sagt med det samme; Redemption skuffer ikke – slet ikke. Dette er uden sammenligning bandets mest modne og alsidige udgivelse til dato. Det er den fjerde af slagsen, og dette kan meget vel være albummet, der placerer Redemption i den absolutte elite indenfor progressiv metal.
Åbningsnummeret "Peel" sætter meget godt standarden for, hvad man kan forvente den næste times tid. Et sublimt velspillet track, der bliver leveret med største selvfølgelighed af samtlige medlemmer. Atter er jeg nødt til at fremhæve frontmand Ray Alder. Efter så mange år i gamet, er det intet mindre end imponerende. at han stadig kan holde så høj en standard på sin vokal. Ganske enkelt imponerende. Dette bliver efterfulgt af det ene sublime track efter det andet. Lyt blot til numre som “Walls“ og “Black And White World“. Smukt, smukt.
En lille ekstra bonus er, at James LaBrie er gæstevokalist på nummeret ”Another Day Dies”, muligvis med referencer til balladen fra Dream Theaters klassiker Images And Words. Lidt af en drømmeduo for fans af genren, og det fungerer til fulde.
Jeg har intet dårligt at sige om dette album. Snowfall on Judgement Day er et lille mesterværk indenfor genren og er alt hvad denne står for. Gode melodier leveret i et komplekst univers; magien og evnerne der går op i en højere enhed. Alligevel kan jeg ikke få mig selv til at smide topkarakter efter denne skive. Dertil er mine forventninger til Redemption, som band, for store, og taget i betragtning af, at dette kun er deres fjerde udspil, er jeg overbevist om at vi ikke har set det bedste fra denne supergruppe.
Mine abstinenser er, i den grad, sat i bero for nu.
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ProgRalph - www.DIGITAL-STEEL.com - webzine - Holland - 100 out of 100 points
HOLY SHIT, what is this. PROGRESSIVE METAL with huge capital letters!! All progressive metal fans wake up and get the new album of the American band Redemption, Snowfall on Judgement day.
Just absorb the superb album of Dream Theater and the next progressive jewel sees daylight. The band with Nicolas van Dyk has made one of the best progressive metal albums of 2009. Together with progressive metal vocalist Ray Alder (Fates Warning), guitarist Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel), the phenomenal rhythm section of Chris Quirarte (drums) and Sean Andrews (bass) and the keyboard talents of Greg Hosharian Redemption succeeded in releasing an album that puts them into the top of the progressive metal world. I should say they share the first place with Dream Theater.
Sometimes Redemption sounds like the band they admire, but still the band has a sound of their own. As said above the solid rhythm foundation forms a strong and solid progressive basis. Add great structured and melodic songs, superb aggressive riffs, strong solo’s, a carpet of subtle but indispensable keyboards and the quite calm but still powerful vocals of Alder to it and viola, there you have a masterpiece.
Especially the song Another Day Dies grabes your attention; the song could be on a Dream Theater album. With the quest appearance of LaBrie it is a Dream Theater song that would be one of the best tracks of Awakening; not differentiable with the work of the other Progressive masters.
Through the whole album you hear the hand of Dream Theater, but each song is absolutely Redemption. This is the strongest point of Redemption; a sound of their own and still very progressive. Comparative to Dream Theater the songs of Redemption are a bit more aggressive, but they stay melodic. What Will You Say and Love Kills Us All / Life In One Day the band takes the pedal of the metal a bit.
The band has toured as support band of Dream Theater. In my point of view a great combination also for the European tour. Two amazing bands; what would a progressive metal fan want more? Just start running to your local music store, buy the Snowfall on Judgement day album, play it loud and enjoy!!!! This album must be a part of your collection.
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Ate - www.GOTHTRONIC.com - webzine - Holland - 9 out of 10 points
Since the release of their nameless debut album in 2002 Redemption is one of the best bands in the current prog metal scene. The American band always delivers high quality albums and at the new album ‘Snowfall on judgment day’ they once again come up to the expectations. At the previous albums Redemption already played a catchy kind of prog metal, but without sounding simple and falling back in repeat. That combination makes Redemption to a unique band and that’s also why ‘Snowfall on judgment day’ is a enjoyable album for one who loves sublime technical metal as well as it is a great album for one who enjoys the more accessible metal music. Because of the great singing by Ray Alder the music sometimes reminds of the best work created by Evergrey and Pain of Salvation, but don’t think this American band needs the same spotlights as these Scandinavian bands. Redemption’s sound is exclusive enough to have it’s own spotlights and this band is ready to stand on it’s own feet, like you can hear in the overwhelming song ‘Walls’. Listening to this album it’s easy to admit the guest appearance by Dream Theater’s James LaBrie isn’t something ‘Snowfall on judgment day’ needs. Of course, the duet between LaBrie and Alder is absolutely worth listening, but Redemption doesn’t need the Dream Theater singer to reach for the highest levels. And maybe it’s a little bit early, but ‘Snowfall on judgment day’ can already be seen as one of the best prog metal releases of 2009.
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Herra Kuhlo - www.HARDCORESOUNDS.net - webzine - USA - 4 out of 5 points
Progressive metal has been keeping it's originality through the years, which is lot to say especially for the metal scene as a whole. Now Redemption, who mix the prog with power are back. As for mixing such opposite genres, I first had my doubts, mostly because I personally never got into the power metal-thing.
Anyway, this album has the most disturbing opening track I've heard in a while. First it sounds like the Terminator -theme, then with a few twists turning into Megadeth. Actually, the whole album has a little Megadeth vibe going on through it with a twist of Dream Theater with it. That might sound a bit controversial, but it actually seems to work pretty well.
Now I know that progressive metal is known for it's epic, over ten minutes long songs, but Redemption has a little problem of keeping the interest going on all through the long songs. At least they could've made a little more progression to these songs. Now sometimes they just seem to stay still for a while too long. It might be okay for a doom band, but for a progressive band I personally want a little more variations.
With an album lasting for 80 minutes and having only ten songs, you probably already know what you're getting. And on most accounts Redemption delivers. I just really wish they would've has more progression on their songs. Now it just has some of those boring moments that make you want to skip a track or two. Otherwise, a rather good album.
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Chad Bowar - www.HEAVYMETAL.ABOUT.com - webzine - USA - 3.5 out of 5 points
After releasing a live CD/DVD earlier this year, the progressive metal band Redemption returns with their fourth studio album Snowfall On Judgment Day. Like 2007’s The Origins Of Ruin, it's intricately arranged and also packs plenty of heaviness.
Songs like "Walls" and "Leviathan Rising" feature some nice guitar work from Nick Van Dyk and Bernie Versailles. Heavy riffs and creative solos mix with bombastic drums and atmospheric keyboards. Redemption adds more texture and emotion on "Black And White World," an 8 minute song that begins with a piano intro, then kicks in. There are ebbs and flows in tempos and intensities, making it a very well rounded song.
Redemption toured with Dream Theater recently, and recruited the band's singer James LaBrie to provide guest vocals on the song "Another Day Dies." It’s an upbeat and catchy song, and one of the best on the album. Redemption's Ray Alder (Fates Warning) is a powerful vocalist in his own right, and adding LaBrie makes for a potent combo.
There’s a lot of outstanding musicianship and well-constructed songs on Snowfall On Redemption Day. There’s more diversity, but not quite as many hooks as on their previous album. It wraps up on a high note with the emotional and epic "Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day," a worthy end to an excellent prog metal CD.
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Matt Coe - www.IMHOTEP.no - webzine - International - 6 out of 6 points
Guitarist/keyboardist Nick van Dyk is a fighter. I’m sure if you are willing to scour the message boards you’ll hear about his serious medical struggles that he’s currently winning with the help of some of the best doctors in the United States. This review however shall focus squarely on the fourth studio album from Redemption - a progressive metal outfit that many in the critical world see as a mini-super group of sorts. When you have Agent Steel guitarist Bernie Versailles on board and Fates Warning singer Ray Alder as well, you know you have years of experience and ability at your disposal. 2007’s “The Origins of Ruin” caught my attention as a fine display of the grace of progressive metal along with injecting heaviness and technical chops without getting merely mechanic and lost without feeling.
Could the magic ring twice for Redemption?
Somehow, “Snowfall on Judgment Day” eclipses their already exemplary discography, in part through it’s exploration of textures and colours. The contrasts of quiet piano against the off time maze-like distortion riffs helps “Keep Breathing” build as if a small wave gathers enough pressure to crash at heights ten stories high. The guitar solo work also throws around reference points to Holdsworth, Petrucci and the Smith/ Murray tandem when it goes from blazing burn speed to sedate harmonies. “Another Day Dies” gives Ray a chance to flex all sides of his vocal range - the more mean spirited sneer as well as the confident, clear and conviction - filled higher melodies. “Walls” opens up Redemption to percussive tribal tempos towards the last third of the song, along with the skillful hi-hat to snare mastery throughout the main portion from drummer Chris Quirarte - proving once again that not everything has been done in this style of music.
Nick as a songwriter may use longer than normal song structures (80% of the album contains songs over 6 minutes in length) but I don’t think there’s an excessive part or instrumental passage out of these 10 tracks. In the end, “Snowfall on Judgment Day” couldn’t have come at a better time in the American progressive metal movement - I think it’s passionate, fierce, memorable and a benchmark for Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Queensryche to think about. Enjoy their finest hour - keep this music alive!
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Bart - www.LORDSOFMETAL.nl - webzine - Holland - 67 out of 100 points
This band is marching towards a steady place around the throne of progressive metal. With every subsequent release Redemption is showing to be able to keep the quality coming. This time as well you may expect what you've come to know from them (and of course you already know them, so I won't need to introduce): heaviness, super-catchy hooks with emotional depth and what else. But all this may be great, and when you're in the right mood you may want to put this on.
But what, aside from the collaboration with James LaBrie on the funny titled 'Another Day Dies', does this record add to their discography? More quality songs, yes. Also more of the same, actually. The surprise is long gone with Redemption. They still sound very much the same, and I would put up any previous record of them with the same pleasure. By all means, they're forgetting to stay progressive and are helping in developing some new genre called classic progressive AOR or whatever you may want to call it.
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Kostas Kounadinis - www.MARIOSMETALMANIA.com - webzine - Holland - 80 out of 100 points
This is the 4th release of this progressive metal supergroup. Nick Van Dyk's Redemption (not to be confused with the Christian metal band) maintains the same line-up (minus the keyboard player) as the previous album “The Origins of Ruin”. This means that Ray Alder is still behind the microphone and Bernie Versailles on guitar. For those who are not familiar with the group I would have to say that its progressive metal is a mix between Fates Warning, Dream Theater and Symphony X. “Snowfall on Judgment Day” is yet another ingenious album with great melodies and ideas. Nevertheless I have an objection. Ray Alder sings far lower than his real potential. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect from him to sing the way he did on “No Exit” or even “Inside Out” but I am not a fan of Engine either. I think that he can really shine through the Redemption material. Anyway he still delivers some fantastic performances, the man is still one of the leading singers of his generation. “Leviathan Rising” is probably the best tune but the rest of the songs don't fall short on inspiration and quality. If you are looking for the real deal in progressive metal, Redemption is the way to go.
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Kit - www.METALCDRATINGS.com - webzine - USA - 4 out of 5 points
If you've heard me say it once, you've heard me say it 1,000 times. I'm not a prog guy. I only need a couple of fingers to count the progressive metal acts that I enjoy. Redemption are on that super-short list. What the heck's so special about them? Let me tell you. For starters, their lead singer is Ray Alder of Fates Warning fame. Alder can't hit those 'No exit' or 'Parallels' type of stratospheric notes anymore, but with age comes wisdom. He coaxes more emotion out of that time and cigarette-ravaged voice today than most pristine-lunged youthful wailers ever could. Then there's the twin-guitar team of Nick Van Dyk and Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel). Not only are they great players, but they bring loads of grit, crunch, and sometimes even thrashy energy, so this isn't atmospheric, artsy-fartsy stuff by any stretch of the imagination. It's metal with a capital "M", and the chugging guitars reinforce that irreducible fact on every song. But the best thing about Redemption is Van Dyk's writing. Both lyrically and musically, he brilliantly captures the regret, the sadness, the melancholy of a careworn middle-aged American life, from wistful reflections on long-extinguished relationships to real-life parental fears and nightmares, which he intertwines with dark, powerful and stunningly melodic compositions.
'Snowfall on judgment day' is Redemption's 4th studio offering, and the Interwebs are humming with effusive praise touting it as a genre-defining, career-topping magnum opus. And it's good. Oh, it's very good. Take a track like "Black and white world", an 8-minute relationship song born of desperation with an urgent silver lining of hope. The music, the arrangements, the lyrics, and the vocal melodies are all impeccably crafted to carry the listener on a deeply emotional and personal journey. Then there's "Walls", a simpler, overtly catchy song sporting a tremendous chorus and a staggering performance from Alder singing about the barriers between 2 people and recognizing that the final stones in that wall were put there by the speaker himself. "Keep breathing" packs an intense emotional wallop, as it's about Van Dyk's daughter, Parker. Her eyes were the subject of a song called "Parker's eyes" on Redemption's 2nd CD, with lyrics about how her sweet, innocent eyes would never see the world pre-9/11, and so on. In a cruel twist of fate, Parker has now been diagnosed with a debilitating eye condition that will leave her vision at no better than 20/200 for the rest of her life. "Keep breathing" is a father's raw, emotionally overwrought response to this terrible burden. Make no mistake: These lyrics are therapy for Van Dyk, and read like open-book diaries on his innermost thoughts. It's that honesty that makes it so effective. You just can't fake the feelings embodied in these words and songs.
Having said all of that, I don't think 'Snowfall on judgment day' is as good as its predecessor, 'The origins of ruin'. There's nothing on here that slays me quite the way that songs like "Fall on you", "Memory" or "Used to be" from 'Origins' did. The pair of super-downtuned 7-string guitar songs ("Fistful of sand" and the unnecessarily political "Leviathan rising") don't really work for me. And the James LaBrie (Dream Theater) duet with Alder on "Another day dies" just feels like pandering to the Dream Theater crowd, as evidenced by the sticker on the front of the CD. Alder is twice the singer that LaBrie is, so the latter's involvement doesn't do anything from a creative standpoint, but appears to be there just to sell product. But these are small quibbles. Redemption have created another awe-inspiring work of metal art that cements their status as the greatest progressive metal band in the world today. If you're a prog fan, you should already own 'Snowfall on judgment day'. If you're like me, and could care less about progressive metal, you should still check out this CD if you crave expertly crafted, emotional heavy metal music straight from the heart, subcategories and genre labels be damned.
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Mitch - www.METAL-OBSERVER.com - webzine - International - 9 out of 10 points
Following the success of 2007’s “The Origins Of Ruin,” Nick van Dyk and friends are back with a vengeance. “Snowfall On Judgment Day” is REDEMPTION’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album, and fans of the band should be happy to know that the band’s trend of going from strength to strength remains unbroken with this release. “Snowfall On Judgment Day” is as solid a Prog Metal album as they come, showing the band making yet another leap forward with their sound.
First off, “Snowfall On Judgment Day” is about five times heavier than “The Origins Of Ruin.” I mean, among Prog bands with Melodic tendencies, REDEMPTION was always one of the heaviest, but “Snowfall On Judgment Day” shows they’ve really got balls. If it weren’t for the carefully calculated technical precision on display in each song, one might even discern a bit of a Thrash influence (particularly on “Fistful Of Sand”). The leap in heaviness suits REDEMPTION incredibly well, adding a bit of extra punch to places where you didn’t even know it was missing.
Once again, van Dyk and his bandmates are in top form. Unlike on “The Origins Of Ruin,” lead singer Ray Alder (yes, he of FATES WARNING fame) can actually be heard very clearly in the mix; his vocals seemed a bit buried on the previous album. Alder gives a standout performance on the album’s catchiest track, “Life In One Day,” but his vocals are excellent on every song, and he even duets with DREAM THEATER’s James LaBrie on “Another Day Dies.”
Though the songs on “Snowfall On Judgment Day” are all fairly long, van Dyk keeps them all interesting with wildly different riffs and time changes. Even songs like “Keep Breathing,” which start off as entirely unpromising ballads, change into blistering ass-kickers in the blink of an eye. The songwriting is consistently good; the choruses are catchy when they need to be, and the verses are technically impressive when jaws are in need of dropping.
“Snowfall On Judgment Day” is just the latest step in REDEMPTION’s continuing evolution as one of the biggest bands in the Progressive Metal genre. The band has become heavier than ever, and it really works to their advantage, adding another layer to their already impressive sound. In addition, they’ve kept everything about their sound that made it so great in the past: impressive riffs, catchy choruses, and a deep, intense atmosphere. Prog fans won’t want to miss out on this one.
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Mike Novak - www.METAL-TEMPLE.com - webzine - International - 4 out of 5 points
Who says that supergroups can’t write great music? In fact, who says that every supergroup is made up of a bunch of egotistical airheads who use the group as a means to show off and make lots of money? REDEMPTION has been defying all of these supergroup stereotypes for several years now, releasing a number of excellent albums in the process.
REDEMPTION was formed in 2001 and released their self-titled album in 2003. The core of the lineup was established when Ray Alder of FATES WARNING fame was added as a full-time vocalist in 2005. They followed up their debut with two excellent albums and "Snowfall On Judgment Day" is their third album in four years.
I'm going to start off by saying that, despite the relatively short time between releases, the quality of the songwriting is still top-notch. This is especially commendable because the previous albums before this were excellent as well. The only real difference this time around is the addition of a full-time keyboardist in Greg Hosharian, who thankfully does not change their sound at all. There may be a slightly stronger presence of keyboard solos, but all of the keyboards are used tastefully, which is a welcome relief from so many other bands of this type.
Right away, the band kicks off with one of their best songs in "Peel". Ray Alder really shines on vocals, especially on that beautiful chorus. The guitar work is excellent (as it is throughout the entire album). The single, "Leviathan Rising", was a poor choice for a single, not because it's a bad song, but because it could be misleading to fans about what to expect from the album. The band uses 7-string guitars on this one for an excellent effect. This song is the perfect illustration of everything that is right with this band. The song is complex, yet still catchy. The guitar riffing and soloing are amazing and the vocals are passionate and beautiful. The only reason that I say that this is a poor choice for a single is because it might turn away some of the more narrow-minded prog fans, due to the heaviness of the guitars.
One of the most commendable things about "Snowfall On Judgment Day" is not just that this album lives up to the standard set by previous albums, but that it does all of this while not rehashing or repeating ideas from previous albums. They are able to innovate and sound fresh while at the same time staying true to their signature sound. I really appreciate the inclusion of 7-string guitars on a couple of songs. The lyrics are outstanding as well.
Another album, another winner from REDEMPTION. The only real negative to this album is that "Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day" is a bit too happy and feels out-of-place, a detriment that has also occurred on previous albums by this band as well. I want to be moved by an album, but these endings are a bit too cheesy for me. Other than that this album is spectacular, the only reason that the rating is not higher is because it does not quite measure up to "The Fullness Of Time". Do not let that deter, for this is a brilliant album and a 'must' own for any Heavy Metal fan.
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Nicoleta Sarantou - www.METALZONE.gr - webzine - Greece - 90 out of 100 points
The funny thing is…I was wondering if this year could become even better after the latest album releases from OSI and Porcupine Tree ...
I could just say that the new Redemption is album is a masterpiece and rate it. But it’s early... there’s always the challenge of time… the excitement… after all, Ray Alder’s voice is one of my favorites for the last ten years the least, so I must avoid being enthousiast in the first place.
"Snowfall on A Judgment day" is the title of Redemption’s new album, a band which is so near to become absolutely perfect. Everything in this album- I mean...EVERYTHING- is exceptional! Alder’s vocals are very expressional, passionate and emotional. He just sings a phrase and it’s enough to create a thousand pictures in your mind. The guitar parts sound crystal clear, despite of the complexity, the heaviness and the variety of their structure. The same goes for the rhythm section. It makes you feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere, towards a swirl of wind, while even your last brain cell is over stimulated. The keyboard parts are much bigger this time and their melodies create magnificent soundscapes.
There's also a guest appearance in the album. James LaBrie gives another dimension to the song “Another day dies”, as his performance is a bit more tough than Alder’s. However, both voices are totally enharmonised, just listen to the choruses ...
I think that this is their best album up to date.. Fates Warning are working on their next album… Is this a dreamy year or what? Well, if Psychotic Waltz would consider a reunion ...
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Childeric Thor - www.MUSICWAVES.fr - webzine - France - 8.5 out of 10 points
Nonobstant les qualités réelles de Fates Warning qui trône toujours avec Dream Theater sur l'autel du metal progressif, on a tout de même l'impression que depuis une petite dizaine d'années c'est bien en dehors du giron maternelle que ses membres s'épanouissent le plus. Si Jim Matheos peut compter sur son OSI pour assouvir sa soif d'expérimentation et de la liberté, le chanteur Ray Alder, quant à lui, ne cesse d'impressionner au sein de Redemption dont il n'est pourtant pas le cerveau, ce rôle incombant en fait au guitariste Nick van Dyk.
"Snowfall On The Judgment Day" est la quatrième pierre à cet édifice et confirme le virage plus heavy que son prédécesseur, The Origins Of Ruins" arborait. Ce recueil de dix titres déroule une trame dense et massive. Le monstrueux "Peel", en ouverture, l'illustre bien et synthétise la signature des Américains : maillage serré, mélodies superbes, guitares incisives, claviers virtuoses sans pour autant dégouliner sur le reste des instruments, refrains qui s'accrochent à la mémoire et surtout lignes de chant émotionnelles qui vous donnent des frissons. Orgie technique, ce morceau du feu de dieu terrasse tout sur son passage en un peu plus de six minutes par sa puissance de frappe.
Ce qui suit atteint un même degré d'excellence, oscillant entre progressions furieuses ("Leviatan Rising" irriguées par des parties de six-cordes ébouriffantes, "Unformed" et son intro à la basse assez Iron Maiden dans l'esprit, "Fistful Of Sand" ancré dans un substrat rythmique implacable), respirations plus sombres ("Walls" ou "What Will You Say") et traversées épiques, à l'image du titanesque "Black And White World" écrit à l'encre noire du désespoir. On tient d'ailleurs là un des traits de caractère les plus nets de Redemption, cette faculté à fusionner déflagrations techniques et concentré de mélancolie dont le pinceau est notamment le chant habité et profond de Ray Alder lequel, est pour beaucoup dans le charme de cette formation. Ses performances émaillant "Keep Breathing" et plus encore le terminal "Life In One Day", longue pulsation atmosphérique, atteignent une pureté en tout point admirable.
Drapé dans une production limpide, "Snowfall On Judgment Day" dévoile donc un metal progressif qui a du coeur. D'une longueur relativement courtes par rapport au genre, une seule d'entre-elles dépassant ainsi la barre des dix minutes, ces dix pistes ne se perdent jamais en circonvolutions inutiles et suivent une colonne vertébrale précise qui ne sacrifient jamais l'efficacité sur l'autel de la complexité à tout prix.
Les inconditionnels de Dream Theater seront bien entendu intéressés par le morceau "Another Day Dies" puisqu'il est porté par la voie si caractéristique de leur James LaBrie préféré. Ce n'est pourtant pas le meilleur du lot. Sans doute parce que la tessiture empreinte de fébrilité du chanteur de Fates Warning sied mieux à la plastique dessinée par Van Dyk.
Digeste et mélodique, "Snowfall On Judgment Day" devrait assoir encore davantage Redemption parmi les plus sérieux prétendants au peloton de tête du prog. Il s'agit peut-être même de son oeuvre la plus aboutie, la plus équilibrée également. On savait depuis ses débuts, qu'il fallait compter sur ce groupe ; on en a aujourd'hui la plus évidentes des confirmations.
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Denys - www.MYGLOBALMIND.info - webzine - USA - 4.5 out of 5 points
When closely inspecting the American Progressive Metal scene, one does realize that there is just simply not enough bands out there that fit into the genre, apart from the veterans and pioneers that are Dream Theater and stouts like Symphony X. The genre needless to say often suffers from lack of creativity and has been accused seldom of sounding repetitive without any substance. Well don't ask that question to American prog metal band Redemption, because they have been amongst the leaders in this particular genre since they released they're classical masterpiece "The Fullness of Time" more on that later. Now we have the band's 4th full length studio album "Snowfall on Judgement Day" and the line up still pretty much intact and again looking to improve on and continue the potent style they have injected into the passionate vocals of Ray Alder (former Fates Warning) and boosting from the great and determined musical mind of Nick van Dyk.
Redemption has become one of my favorite bands to watch and listen to, after "The Fullness of Time" got released I found myself so enamored of the powerful music I was beholding at the time that it was unruly. The amazing and passionate vocals of Ray Alder mixed with the pure raw power from the guitar and drums, just added a new layer of musical emotions that left you pretty captivated and begging for more. To simply say that they're brand of music was very personal and close to my dear heart, would be a huge understatement. They haven't really dissapointed much after that since then shortly thereafter "The Origins Of Ruins" got released and the musicianship continued. So now SOJD comes out and I was just intrigued as to what more amazing music they still had to deliver.
The opening track "Peel" cracks your listening ear with a nice keyboard and eery dark passage, then the prowess of the rhythm guitars sledges your senses once again, meanwhile the drums here are reminiscent of some of Dream Theater's later catalogue musical style. Soon Alder greets you with a powerful and melodic chorus and Ray still sounds better then ever while the double bass pounding menaces to pull the listener in as to what's in stock next. Continuing the assault is "Walls" which has an awesome lyrical concept all around about inner per severance, and Alder breaks the mold with same strengh and passion as any of their earlier work, both van Dyk and Versailles must be commended on this one as the dual guitars are excellent here as they wail back and forth. Perhaps the guys wanted to sound heavier which they sucessfully do here on the track "Leviathan Rising" which is a constant improvement and is easy to note that this track is perhaps they're darkest and heaviest song to date. Packing so much emotion and feeling from anything else I've heard all year is the epic "Black and White World", opening with a nice piano intro then a pulse of energy breaks way for the keyboards and the guitar to take center stage. This amazing track reminds me of another epic "Sapphire" from the Fullness of Time record, with again powerful lyrics, and astounding vocal superiority from Alder.
Midway through this musical journey I find myself still in tuned and witnessing the track "Keep Breathing" with it's opening reminding me of some classic Queensryche acoustic passages ala "The Mission" or "Lady Wore Black", but it quickly breaks any similarities into another potent dose of heavy bottom double kick drums and killer guitar annihilation. As some of you know the band went on tour with Dream Theater for the Systematic Chaos tour and opened for them so "Another Day Dies" is a collaboration with DT frontman James Labrie. You won't find anything revolutionary here, only James sounding great and the music composition sounds like something borrowed from early DT catalogue, is just good change of pace and nice to see James Labrie contributing something positive here. Endearing in the power of love gives way to "What Will You Say" with a different and more laid back guitar riff, this awesome track really sounds like a more grown up and mature Redemption and the musicianship is top notch here, this track works well all around.
The progressive metal genre takes a beating sometimes from the naysayers always stating the music sounds the same, is all about wankery and there is never anything groundbreaking. I don't see any of this critisism here as this album proves once again why Redemption is one of today's biggest Progressive metal acts. I think to truly appreciate great music you have to give it time and carefully listen to each composition to fully grasp the grandeour of the immense work of art that goes into making progressive music. Any fan of prog metal will surely dig this up but if you haven't heard of them before, this wouldn't be a bad album to start off with. Go out and support the band and get this album now.
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Kenn Jensen - www.POWEROFMETAL.dk - webzine - Denmark - 97 out of 100 points
2009 hasn't exactly been a great year for progressive music, way too many middle-of-the-road releases with no substance have seen the light of day, but September surely changed that and we have been blessed with no less than four excellent albums: Porcupine Tree, Voyager, Subsignal and, last but not least Redemption within a month.
This is the album you should pick up if you:
* feel a bit let down by Dream Theater's latest album.
* want to hear the best progressive metal album released in 2009.
* have a hard time believing that Redemption has taken a huge step forward from "The Origins of Ruin".
* want to hear the most mature, well constructed, crafted and produced album from Redemption (so far).
* - like me - loves Ray Alder's voice, and he puts everything he has ever recorded in the shade with this album.
* want to hear to which heights one of the most underestimated guitarists Nicolas van Dyk has taken his band on this album.
* want to hear a perfectly balanced and well produced progressive metal album.
* don't want to miss out on of the best albums in 2009, a very strong contender for album of the year.
I will stop the praising now, and suggest that you experience this album for yourself; otherwise you'd be missing out on something exceptional.
Brilliant!
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Steen Jepsen - www.REVELATIONZ.dk - webzine - Denmark - 9 out of 10 points - (Album of the Month) -
Redemption is back with their fourth album, the third in a row voiced by Fates Warning's Ray Alder. Let me tell you right away: There are some real gems on this one. On the first listen more than half the songs stood out and made an instant impression. That is highly unusual with a progressive metal release.
Usually my reaction to what turns out to be a superb progressive metal album goes something like this:
First listen = Confused but strangely intrigued
5'th listen = There is definitely something here
15'th listen = Wow! Brilliant!
With Snowfall on Judgment Day my reaction was more like this:
First listen = Wow! Brilliant!
5'th listen = Album of the year!
15'th listen = Oh my god this is fantastic. Aha aha I like it. (little dance) Woo!
With Snowfall... Peel, Walls, Black and White World, Keep Breathing, What Would You Say? and Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day were all standouts on the first listen and have remained favorites since. The rest took the normal route and now, around the fifteenth listen are finally starting to grow. As you may notice all my favorites are the most melodic ones but they are also the ones where the lyrics make the biggest impact. It's like these lyrics are on another level compared to everything else. They are incredibly well written, cover a variety of different emotions and are related in a way that gets under the skin, touching a special nerve on the way.
Ray Alder has a major part in making the lyrics work so well. I believe I have never heard him give a better performance and this comes from a long time fan who has loved his work since Fates Warning's No Exit from 1988. His performance is perfectly balanced. Flawless is too cold a word to describe his performance. He complements the music and completes it in a way which makes several passages magical.
The musicians are brilliant all around. It's great to actually be able to hear the bass in the sound and there's a ton of detail in drums (genius performance by Chris Quirarte), bass and guitar to enjoy on repeated listens. The keyboard also perfectly utilized as it doesn't take focus but enhances the sound with subtle melodies and atmospheres.
Peel opens the ball with a foreboding keyboard melody, shattered by a technical and inventive mesh of bass, drums and guitar. Ray Alder's voice floats on top of the manic background in a way that is both calming and contradicting in a genius way. The vocal melodies he delivers are wonderful.
Walls was an instant favorite. From the brilliant sharp guitar solo, which leads the song away through to the superb chorus that goes on and on and beyond the song is pure melodic perfection. This song is one of many examples of how the piano enhances the song in a subtle but important way. There's even a small nod (drum roll) to Dream Theater's "Pull Me Under" around the 5 minute mark.
Things get heavier with Leviathan Rising, a song that took a while to fully bloom but eventually won me over by means of a headbanging guitar riff.
Song number 4 seems to have a special significance when it comes to Redemption. For the past two albums the fourth song has been my absolute favorite and this time it's no different. Black and White World is an astounding piece of music. This song has everything, truly. It covers amazing ground in its 8 minutes and touches on the whole range of emotion in way that is not often experienced through a song. From despair to joy in 8 minutes, the song builds momentum from its piano opening and with its final magical passage ends on a note so high it can only be described as complete fulfillment. This one has quickly flown up there with my all time favorite songs and I'm still completely addicted to it. Incredible song. On a side note and staying with the song number 4 connection Black and White World serves as a fitting conclusion to Sapphire and Memory if chosen to be seen that way.
Unformed has the unthankful task of continuing the album. It takes a rather more direct and forceful approach.
Keep Breathing is another emotional highlight. The lyrics are devastating yet life affirming. Ray Alder breathes life to the lyrics in a way that hits the right nerve. The song develops from fragile to determined as the music evolves from acoustic to heavy in a way that is convincing and touching.
Another Day Dies with James Labrie on guest vocals wins on repeated listen. The lyrics are chilling and Labrie delivers a fine performance. The guitar and drum work is splendid with new details standing out with each listen.
What Will You Say? Is yet another highlight. The song is utterly melodic and has one of those choruses that I wish would never end. Again the lyrics have a special way of laying it perfectly on the line. Melancholy is perfectly captured in both music and lyrics.
The 11 minute opus Love Kills Us All/Life in One Day ends the album on a peak. This is one of those songs that has to be experienced as it can simply not be explained (Of course I am now going to try). The song slowly builds through its three parts. First a moody melancholic introduction followed by a powerful instrumental section, making a mood switch at the 5 minute mark which leads to a major highlight as Ray enters the sound again with the words "Seems so strange to think of." I love this vocal melody as it holds so much tension and emotion. It reappears with "Snow Fell on the platform..". As if that was not enough the band performs another magic trick with the chorus, especially the "transient connection." line lingers on for a long time. With another atmospheric switch around the 9 minute mark the song reaches an ending crescendo where it feels as if the past trilogy of Redemption albums come full circle and are concluded with the most powerful and positive message I can imagine. So simple and beautiful.
After my first listen to the album was finished I sat back with a very powerful feeling of "Yes! They did it. Amazing". Many listens later, I still get the same joyful feeling. Finally someone has managed to capture such intense and powerful feelings in music. This doesn't happen every year. The last time I gave a new album 9/10 was back in 2004 for Ayreon's "The Human Equation". Finally, here is another album that deserves the same accolade.
If art is defined as an expression by one or more individuals in an attempt to elicit an emotional response then Snowfall on Judgment Day is Redemption's masterpiece. Snowfall on Judgment Day is musical perfection wrapped in tightly woven strands of emotion. Unpack them one by one and prepare to be overwhelmed.
In a word, stunning. Don't let this album slip through your fingertips.
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Scott Jessup - www.SEAOFTRANQUILITY.com - webzine - USA - 5 out of 5 points
2002 saw the release of Redemption's self-titled debut, and they stepped it up a notch with the The Fullness of Time in 2005, then followed that with the awesome The Origins of Ruin in 2007, and ultimately we were treated to a great live DVD Frozen in the Moment: Live in Atlanta. Now after these engaging progressive metal releases, which really cemented Redemption's reputation as one of the genre's best, we now have Snowfall On Judgment Day, mixed by the respected Tommy Hansen.
With a stellar line-up featuring the skilful Nicolas van Dyk on guitars and keyboards, Ray Alder's wonderful vocals, Bernie Versailles potent guitar, Greg Hosharian's tasteful keyboards, Sean Andrews fine bass playing and Chris Quirarte's exciting drum work, the band really puts it all together here. Plus, for the Dream Theater fans, and I'm sure many of which also enjoy Redemption, (or should at the very least check them out if you haven't) the splendid "Another Day Dies" has vocals from James LaBrie.
Snowfall On Judgment Day is progressive perfection plain and simple. I love the extra touches like at the start of the punchy track "Walls" which has a fantastic chorus, and Ray Alder sounds as wonderful as ever on this release.The heavy track "Peel" is a top notch opener, as this very busy track has it all, and the eleven minute epic "Love Kills us All/Life in One Day" is another fantastic dose of progressive metal.
I wouldn't say Snowfall On Judgment Day surpasses The Fullness of Time and The Origins of Ruin, which isn't a negative, I just like them so very much also, but this one's in my top five for 2009 for sure.
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Larvarela - www.SOUNDSCAPEOFTHINKINGPATTERNS.blogspot.com - webzine - USA - no rating
Imagine if the two best progressive metal acts, Dream Theater and Fates Warning produced? Most likely it would turn out to be something like Redemption, the band led by guitarist Nick van Dyk and Fates Warning’s own legendary vocalist Ray Alder infuses heavy moments, melodic moments, symphonic moments and profound lyrics. On their new album Snowfall On Judgment Day the band shows that they are at the forefront of the progressive metal scene along with the two aforementioned bands.
With the latest release, it is evident that the torch has been passed to Redemption as this is truly remarkable stuff. Ray Alder, while he can’t reach the vocals he was able to produce in his early years, brings an emotional impact to the band’s superb musicianship that only he can produce.
The album is the most diverse album of the band’s career. Unlike their previous album The Origins of Ruin where they went in a more melodic direction, there are plenty of heavy tracks on the album such as the opener “Peel” that has Alder with harsher vocals juxtaposed to ripping guitar solos. This is not to say though that they have done away with the melodic moments though. “Walls”, “Black and White World” and “Keep Breathing” are excellent representations of Redemption’s melodically beautiful moments.
What will amaze some is that the band has matured even more so than they already were. “Walls” for example shows that this band is not just about musicality but that they have something to say with lyrics such as “I’ve been peeling away the layers/Digging to the center/Trying to find some common thread to follow.” Unlike some of the more European prog metal bands and metal bands in general, the lyrical content while understandable is not as much “on the nose” as most tend to be. In fact, most of the tracks, with the exception of “Leviathan Rising”, has a lot to do with personal relationships, breaking barriers and making the best out of life.
Also featured on the album is a surprise duet between Alder and Dream Theater’s James Labrie that is prog fan’s wet dream. Despite it being the most mainstream track on the album, the duet works with the band itself doing what it does best, play great music with alternating time signatures done to perfection. What truly stands out more than anything in the track is the rhythm’s section’s preciseness that give the guitars a backseat midway through the track.
The true landmark of the album though is the 11 minute epic “Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day” that exemplifies the best in prog metal with ghostly, atmospheric keyboards in the beginning that work to perfection with Alder’s emotional delivery, to the eerie piano playing that precedes the epic musicianship that continues to, well, progress throughout the rest of the track. The end is pure gold with beautifully sang vocal lines at the conclusion “Will you think about the chance for love you threw away/Will you think about the mistakes you made along the way/Will you think about the place that we might be today/What will you say…” – the perfect capper to an album of such variety, musicality and thought provoking messages.
Simply put, Snowfall On Judgment Day, while not the magnum opus of Porcupine Tree’s The Incident, is a guideline to what progressive metal should be and proves that Redemption are at the forefront of this underground genre. The question remains though, will Redemption stay in that underground area like Fates Warning has been stuck in for 25+ years or will they gain the legion of fans Dream Theater has? Only time will tell, but at the end of the day, they made the album of their career thus far and that’s what really matters.
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Nosferatwo - www.SPUTNIKMUSIC.com - webzine - USA - 3.5 out of 5 points
Progressive metal is a genre that, maybe more than even the stale state of power metal, loves to pay homage to the past by way of new music. Ever since Dream Theater released the back-to-back landmarks Awake and Images And Words, progressive bands have been taking the blueprint laid down to them and attempting to reinvent the wheel. No shortage of bands have taken up the task, though few have ever matched those heights.
Redemption is not one of the bands content to regurgitate Dream Theater's past. Their definition of progressive metal does not begin and end with the most famous band in the genre, but incorporates a heavy influence from little known, but highly influential band Fates Warning. Combining the work of both bands gives an accurate representation of what Redemption is all about, but not an accurate picture of what Redemption is able to do with their influences.
The brainchild of guitarist/songwriter Nick van Dyk, Redemption has scored a coup for all prog fans. The band, now a well honed machine, features singer Ray Alder and guitarist Bernie Versailles, both stalwart members of Fates Warning. That they would not just appear as guests, but become members of Redemption, is a vote of tremendous confidence. That confidence was payed off with The Origins Of Ruin, the band's last album, and a stunning piece of work when compared to the flaccid nature of so much of what is labeled progressive metal.
Snowfall On Judgment Day continues Redemption's steady output, and cements the band as one of the top voices in the progressive world. As the slow drum beat of "Peel" builds up, the first guitar riff that cuts through is huge. The tone is the same as on the previous albums, a thick yet modern wall of sound that makes every riff sound larger than life. Keyboards enter early, pushed high into the mix, before Alder is able to give the song his trademark wails. The harmony vocals added to the chorus are buried in the mix, robbing the song of the power it should have. Power is on ample display on "Walls", a stripped down and simpler song featuring Alder powering his voice through a tasty melody, before Versailles lets rip with a complex but tasteful solo.
Redemption ups the ante on "Leviathan Rising", with a super heavy 7-string riff making it the most aggressive song in their catalog. "Black And White World" swings in the opposite direction, a classical piano piece opening the song in dramatic fashion before the song opens up in typical Redemption style. "Unformed" follows suit, trading clean guitars for the piano, rehashing the writing of everything the band has done to this point. Alder gives it his all, but his limitations as a vocalist are easily realized. Legendary as he may be in prog circles, his voice is thin, strained, one-dimensional. His performance is acceptable, but the shortcomings are highlighted when Dream Theater frontman James Labrie shows up for a guest spot on "Another Day Dies". Labrie's more powerful voice props the song up, giving it a new energy, supplying gorgeous harmonies as the chorus recalls the glory days of his own band.
It is here, as well as the shorter "What Will You Say" that the band finds their footing, the latter a ballad-tinged rocker with the strongest chorus on the album. These more focused works allow the band to ply their trade while not getting lost in the wandering passages that threaten all progressive music. They do a very good job of managing themselves, never falling into excess. Unfortunately, what is true of each song is not true of the album itself. At ten songs and over 70 minutes, this album is a behemoth. With so much crammed into every song, and so little variation in tone, tempo, and style, the experience is not what it could be. All of the songs here are well crafted examples of progressive metal, but there is simply too much here to digest all at once. The Origins Of Ruin, an almost identical album, felt much more satisfying because of its almost 15 minute shorter running time.
What Redemption has given prog fans is exactly what they want; another album of technical music with enough heart and emotion to overcome the somewhat robotic nature of the genre. Snowfall On Judgment Day is a good album, but it comes close to letting the listener overdose. For fans of the band, it is another welcome addition to their growing legacy. For people who may be interested in getting into the band, this is not the place to start. Snowfall of Judgment Day is a challenging listen in every way, and lacks the immediacy that makes The Origins Of Ruin the definitive Redemption album.
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Simon Mounsey - www.STATICMULTIMEDIA.com - webzine - USA - 3 out of 4 points
Imagine if the two best progressive metal acts, Dream Theater and Fates Warning produced? Most likely it would turn out to be something like Redemption, the band led by guitarist Nick van Dyk and Fates Warning’s own legendary vocalist Ray Alder infuses heavy moments, melodic moments, symphonic moments and profound lyrics. On their new album Snowfall On Judgment Day the band shows that they are at the forefront of the progressive metal scene along with the two aforementioned bands.
With the latest release, it is evident that the torch has been passed to Redemption as this is truly remarkable stuff. Ray Alder, while he can’t reach the vocals he was able to produce in his early years, brings an emotional impact to the band’s superb musicianship that only he can produce.
The album is the most diverse album of the band’s career. Unlike their previous album The Origins of Ruin where they went in a more melodic direction, there are plenty of heavy tracks on the album such as the opener “Peel” that has Alder with harsher vocals juxtaposed to ripping guitar solos. This is not to say though that they have done away with the melodic moments though. “Walls”, “Black and White World” and “Keep Breathing” are excellent representations of Redemption’s melodically beautiful moments.
What will amaze some is that the band has matured even more so than they already were. “Walls” for example shows that this band is not just about musicality but that they have something to say with lyrics such as “I’ve been peeling away the layers/Digging to the center/Trying to find some common thread to follow.” Unlike some of the more European prog metal bands and metal bands in general, the lyrical content while understandable is not as much “on the nose” as most tend to be. In fact, most of the tracks, with the exception of “Leviathan Rising”, has a lot to do with personal relationships, breaking barriers and making the best out of life.
Also featured on the album is a surprise duet between Alder and Dream Theater’s James Labrie that is prog fan’s wet dream. Despite it being the most mainstream track on the album, the duet works with the band itself doing what it does best, play great music with alternating time signatures done to perfection. What truly stands out more than anything in the track is the rhythm’s section’s preciseness that give the guitars a backseat midway through the track.
The true landmark of the album though is the 11 minute epic “Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day” that exemplifies the best in prog metal with ghostly, atmospheric keyboards in the beginning that work to perfection with Alder’s emotional delivery, to the eerie piano playing that precedes the epic musicianship that continues to, well, progress throughout the rest of the track. The end is pure gold with beautifully sang vocal lines at the conclusion “Will you think about the chance for love you threw away/Will you think about the mistakes you made along the way/Will you think about the place that we might be today/What will you say…” – the perfect capper to an album of such variety, musicality and thought provoking messages.
Simply put, Snowfall On Judgment Day, while not the magnum opus of Porcupine Tree’s The Incident, is a guideline to what progressive metal should be and proves that Redemption are at the forefront of this underground genre. The question remains though, will Redemption stay in that underground area like Fates Warning has been stuck in for 25+ years or will they gain the legion of fans Dream Theater has? Only time will tell, but at the end of the day, they made the album of their career thus far and that’s what really matters.
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Igor Stakh - www.TEETHOFTHEDIVINE.com - webzine - USA - no rating/b>
People tagging Redemption as another Dream Theater copycat seem to be out of touch with reality when it comes to maligning this inexcusably underrated and yet outstanding Progressive Metal outfit from LA. When talents such as Ray Alder (Fates Warning), Nick van Dyk (Fools Game) and Bernie Versailles (Fates Warning, Agent Steel) are joined together you just can’t go wrong, even if they don’t necessarily bring forth any new tricks to gain their audience. In fact, with so much heart and thought put into the songwriting and arrangements, the only rule these guys should abide by is to be themselves, and avoid going to any other extremes.
Being the band’s fourth studio offering, Snowfall On Judgment Day is rife with the same hypnotizing elements as its predecessor The Origins Of Ruin. Its python like musical stranglehold will never let you off until your last breath, but the paradox is that you’ll want to repeat this same deadly experience over and over. The six and a half minute opener “Peel” will rip apart the most skeptical of listeners as it transcends thrashy territories, offering riffs as massive and crushing as a millstone, while the exquisite yet hushed piano and keyboards serve as a smoothing vector. Arguably, at times it sounds a lot like guitarist Bernie Versailles’ other band, Agent Steel. Actually, there are quite a few tracks of such an inexorable character, with “Leviathan Rising”, “Fistful Of Sand” and “Another Day Dies” being the heaviest and most devastating. Interestingly enough, this last named track features quite an impressive vocal duet between Ray Alder and James la Brie and is a dead-ringer for “Constant Motion” from Dream Theater’s album, Systematic Chaos. Nevertheless, it easily fits in with the rest of the band’s material.
The other half of the album is more in the realm of melodic traditionalism, typified by the beautiful and contagious motifs such as those heard on “Walls”, “Black And White” and “Keep Breathing”. I think this is where the guys pursue their favourite facets of the music they write, while never forgetting to frame it in a mass of inventive arrangements and instrumental grandeur. “Black And White”, enchanting with a fabulous interplay between the piano and the bass at the beginning of the song, soon evolves into what I consider one of the most beautiful tunes ever brought by the genre as a whole. Going over the eight-minute mark, it reminds me of “Memory” from their previous album and has everything I would ask for in this model of Progressive Metal. From unexpected curves to never recurring musical solutions, to the countless new revelations being made with each new listen, this song is still airy in its feel and easy to grasp despite the complexities. The eleven-minute epic, “Love Kills Us All - Life In One Day” crowns the album in a very solemn way, offering a lengthy introduction in a very much Tangerine Dream style of space rock, with a gradual addition of abruptly played riffs as well as soaring vocals from Ray.
In fact, Redemption’s new album is the quintessential easy-to-follow tutorial for all those just cutting their teeth on the genre, since it offers everything Progressive Metal is renowned for. There’s no deficit of complex, yet truly absorbing structures, irreproachable musicianship and the distinct contributions of each member involved, as well as the masterful songwriting, luxurious melodies and inventive arrangements. To me, it’s unconditionally one of 2009 best gifts from the genre that I recommend with no apprehension to be condemned for this recommendation afterwards.
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Ragman - www.THERIGHTTOROCK.com - webzine - USA - 4 out of 5 points
My first exposure to Redemption was when they opened for Dream Theater a few years back on the Chaos in Motion tour. I was blown away by the band and couldn’t wait too start picking up their catalog. The band has been around since 2000, and has hosted a who’s who of progressive musicians before settling in on a fairly permanent lineup with the addition of vocalist Ray Adler in 2005. Being a fan of Adler’s work with Fates Warning, made this band a no brainer for me. Still not sure why it took me so long to get into them, but I finally saw the light when I saw them live. Snowfall on Judgment Day, marks this lineup’s 3rd release together. Let see how it measures up to their previous work.
Snowfall opens with the uptempo rocker Peel. Peel sees Adler going for a more gruff vocal transforming the tune into something reminiscent of recent Dream Theater. It has a heavier punchier sound that is a little more straight ahead metal than pure progressive. Don’t get me wrong there are some proggy moments, thanks to keyboardist Greg Hosharian, but the overall vibe of the tune is heavy. The next track Walls, probably my favorite, is a midtempo rocker with a great melody and a very catchy chorus. Also, there are some killer solos by guitarist’s Nik Van Dyk and Bernie Versailles. This one is on constant replay. Another great track is Another Day Dies, featuring Dream Theater vocalist James La Brie. It is a cool duet between Adler and La Brie. The song arrangements sound like current DT with that more modern straight forward approach. The rest of the CD is a mix of midtempo and uptempo rockers that are executed to perfection. The songs are memorable and melodic.
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Tommy Hash - www.YTSEJAM.com - webzine - USA - 5 out of 5 points
I have to hand it to these guys, they are keeping the true spirit of progressive metal real and down-to-earth; I mean, you don't even have to call Snowfall on Judgment Day a prog-metal record, it's a full-on, ballsy, heavy metal album...that happens to utilize keyboards and is also quite sophisticated in the technical manner. So heavy it may be, this band has not forgotten the true art of thinking man's metal, the melody, an art that is often lost to overzealous orchestrations, extreme elements and goth overtones - but that is not the case with Redemption, nor has the vision of founder/guitarist Nicolas van Dyk ever faltered - they get stronger with every record.
The mass of metal monstrosity opens up with the intensity of "Peel," a cryptical offering that hails in the dark resonate overtones that encompasses the record. Throughout Snowfall..., you hear that the main point is to create something heavy and melodic with the precision based musicianship and speed factor built-in - yet not going overboard, where there is no sense of urgency to stand out and create an 'opus', where the stance was to create vigorous collection of tunes. Tracks such as the pall-riddled hallowed vibe of "Leviathan Rising," the sinister grooves of "Another Day Dies," the raging "Fistful of Sand," and the extended "Life in One Day" (feat. James LaBrie) expose the record's intense moodiness while a more emotive hierarchy is found within both "Black and White World" & "What Will You Say," which aren't exactly ballads, but they crank the darkness factor up.
Ray Alder's voice holds up well, leading the way through the anthemic textures, hooks, and catchiness that endures throughout Snowfall on Judgment Day. The record's consistent metalized attitude is brought forth from drummer Chris Quirarte and bassist Sean Andrews holding out the backbone, complimenting the nimble axe attack of both van Dyk and Agent Steel guitarist Bernie Versailles (having two different guitarists really puts the crunch front and center) as well as keyboardist Greg Hosharian adding his own flavorings to the mix - speaking of 'mix,' Tommy Hansen was brought on to round things out behind the board in the final stages f the record, crystallizing the sonic quality. They have firmly planted their own flag in the world of 'thinking man's metal' and have become an entity unto themselves (without being this mere Fates Warning 'family band'), executing the atmospheres that hearken Mind's Eye, Evergrey, & recent Dream Theater crossed with the heavy vibe of Virgin Steel, Sanctuary, & Primal Fear to maintain the perfect balance of belligerent overtones and intelligent tunes - the question remains: how will they top this one off?
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