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*Year: 2005
*Genre: Progressive/Power Metal
*Country: USA (Los Angeles, California)
*Format: mp3@256
*Size: 105 Мб.

Tracklist:
1. Threads 05:43
2. Parker's Eyes 06:15
3. Scarred 07:56
4. Sapphire 15:55
5. The Fullness of Time I: Rage 05:01
6. The Fullness of Time II: Despair 03:20
7. The Fullness of Time III: Release 05:16
8. The Fullness of Time IV: Transcendence 07:59
*************************
Total playing time: 57:25

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Redemption's "The Fullness of Time" comes at a time where several progressive metal bands have released some great albums. In the past three years, Symphony X, Nevermore, and Evergrey have released at least one unbelievable album. What sets these bands apart is that while most progressive metal bands are progressive first, metal second, the complete opposite is true for these three. This also applies to "The Fullness of Time." That is not to say that there aren't progressive parts, but there are numerous opportunities to headbang as well. Oh, did I mention that Ray Alder of Fates Warning fame is on vocals?

The album kicks off with "Threads," with heavy riffing and double bass before a moving keyboard melody smoothly enters. Heavy, yet melodic throughout. This is a great song, and certainly would have been a candidate for best song had this album not been so strong.

"Parker's Eyes" ups the melody quotient as well as being possibly the best song lyrically. The song is indirectly written to Ray Alder's son, Parker. Here, Alder is talking to Parker, looking into his eyes, wondering what it is like to know life before 9/11, to not know about all these politicians that are tearing America apart. It's a strong song and the emotional soloing only makes it better.

"Scarred" gets off to a slow start by immediately kicking into a fairly weak riff, but the song certainly gets better, especially when Alder's angry vocals kick in. The soloing is fantastic, but really that can be said for all five songs on this disc. More good lyrics, and finally some tasteful keyboard soloing amidst all the guitar frenzy.

It is the song "Sapphire," though, where the guitar frenzy is the highest, which is ironic because it is also the strongest melodically too. 14:00+ times can allow you to do that. Great chorus, superb solo section, and lyrics that once again are surprisingly strong, despite being about the commonly cliched subject of relationships. Few bands can write a song over 10 minutes and have it be any good.

Even fewer bands can write a 20+ song and have it be any good. Names that come to mind are “The Odyssey” by Symphony X and “A Change of Seasons” by Dream Theater. Well, you can add the title track to that list because it is truly phenomenal. Ray Alder adds his strong melodic choruses, uses some angry vocals, and is probably the best aspect of the song. The guitar and keyboard soloing is still there, but on a lesser scale. “Rage” and “Despair” flow perfectly into each other, while “Release” is probably the strongest suite out of the four; mainly because it is a good enough to stand alone as a separate song. “Transcendence” is probably the weakest because it doesn’t fit; the mood is all of the sudden “happy,” and just seems out of place. Not really a bad song (or section or whatever), but certainly the weakest track on the disc.

On the whole, bringing in Ray Alder was a huge success. Hearing this CD reminds me kind of what I expected Fates Warning to sound like when I first learned of their existence a little over a year ago. Although he sounds a bit strained at times (the chorus of “Sapphire”) and he sounded a little better on FW’s “FWX,” the music here is so much better and Alder seems to be the missing piece of Redemption’s figurative puzzle. One thing that could use improvement though, is the guitar sound, especially on the solos. It isn’t really bad production; the sound just isn’t bold enough to fully take advantage of the amazing solos heard throughout. Still, that is only a minor complaint. This would easily be the best metal release of 2005 had it not been for Nevermore’s incredible “This Godless Endeavor.” Still, Redemption have something special here; and it should be experienced by all progressive and heavy metal fans.
/Ревью by pinpals взято с www.metal-archives.com/

Лично для меня этот альбом стал шедевром. Потрясающие мелодии и великолепный вокал. Всем любителям прог павера очень советую.

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Country: USA
Bitrate: 256 kbps
Size: 105 mb
Format: Full Lenght




::headb

Produced by Nick van Dyk with Tommy Newton

Mixed and mastered by Tommy Newton at Area 51 Studios.

Drums recorded at Bill's Place Studios
North Hollywood, CA, July 2004
Drums engineered by Nick van Dyk with Bill Metoyer

Vocals and bass recorded at Legacy Studios, Westwood, CA
August-September 2004
Engineered by Nik van Dyk

Guitars recorded at Area 51 Studios
Celle, Germany, November, 2004
Engineered by Tommy Newton

Executive produced by Nick van Dyk and Nick Golden

C этим альбомом надо повнимательнее...

То есть, не стоит его воспринимать как прог-павер - это самый настоящий в меру мозголомный прогрессив, из которого придётся с немалым усилием вычленять мелодии. Конечно, соглашусь, бывают вещи и посложнее, но вот именно эта пластинка Redemption уж очень неслушабельна и неуживчива, к ней надо привыкать.

Большой минус заключается в том, что первая половина альбома ЗНАЧИТЕЛЬНО сильнее последних четырёх песен. Сапфир так вообще - я считаю эту песню одной из лучших песен в жанре прогрессив, и самой (слышите, САМОЙ!) своей любимой песней в проге - маленькая пьеса продолжительностью в 15 минут содержит в себе почти всё, что необходимо и немного больше.

С Redemption надо повнимательнее (или я уже это говорил?)... В плане лирики - и не даром уважаемый автор новости нам привёл длиннющее пояснение. Redemption отличается наличием эмоциональной составляющей: при всей недоступности материала нетренированному уху, ещё больше останется непонятым и не прочувствованным в полной мере, ежели не уделить внимания переживаниям авторов.

Собственно, этот альбом далеко не шедевр, но стремится к этому, и, пожалуй, обязательно им станет - если постараетесь (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile1.gif)

+ Scarred
великолепные треки, просто символы американского (прогрессивного) металла лично для меня.
к сожалению, не весь альбом такой невероятно крутой, хоть и приятный.

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