by Franco Cerchiari
— Sr. Journalist —
While some have lumped Redemption into the genre of Progressive Rock and Metal, they are in fact, difficult to pigeonhole. Certainly there are characteristics of this incredible band’s music that does fall within the realm of the Progressive, they, along with others who possess the ability to fuse many different genres within their music, (Evergrey, Threshold, Pagan’s Mind, Sun Caged,) Redemption has once again come up with a stellar release titled Long Night’s Journey Into Day, released on the Metal Blade Records label.
The follow up to 2016’s excellent The Art Of Loss, the boys of Redemption have taken a sensitive matter and written a collection of songs that cause the listener to think about the lyrics and what it is they would feel if they too were subjected to the musical topic at hand. Getting their CD name from the Eugene O’Neill’s play “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” a somber, affecting performance about the crumbling of a family overwhelmed with addiction, Redemption has said of their album title, “….we inverted the phrasing of the title to show what Redemption’s message is all about. It’s a journey and at times a struggle. But there is daybreak.”
What Redemption has done here, is they have come together to showcase music that is aggressive with heavy riffs, but at the same time, tuneful, melodic, gorgeous, and multifaceted, while at the same time keen lyrics are sobering, astute and insightful. It is that which makes this release so good – the fusing of the perceptive, life-altering thoughts that plague families trying to comprehend how it is they can help their loved ones who are gripped in the claws of addiction, while at the same time offering hope for recovery. The fact that Redemption has been able to show both hope and despair all within the boundaries of musical passages, sung words, and attentive musicianship, earns this release the highest of praise.
Featuring the debut of Evergrey vocalist Tom Englund, Long Night’s Journey Into Day, producer extraordinaire Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Evergrey, Amaranthe, Epica, Primal Fear,) shows how adept he is on bringing forth a sound that is ripe with unadulterated power and substance that is so vital to pull off what this release is all about. It is clean, but at the same time weighs heavily on the listener. Had the music come across as light and super-polished this album’s message would have been lost.
Opening with “Eyes You Dare Not Meet In Dreams,” here is a song that is colossal, heavy as all hell, with furious drums and guitar riffs, it immediately draws the listener in and right away begins the story with the lyrics, “..it doesn’t matter what you say, it’s too late to change the damage you’ve done.” It works on all the right levels, and it makes no apologies as this song kicks the listener right in the ass, and demands that this album is to be paid attention to. “The Echo Chamber” is a song that MUST be heard with headphones as mid track opposing parties argue on the best way to deal with a variety of problems we as a society are faced with. Switching from right to left ear non-stop without warning, and at times both ears hearing voices chaotically demanding that their viewpoint is listened to, it drives home the significance that we need to “hear” what others are saying, and not just “listen” to what they are saying.
The acoustic guitars and piano of the beyond touching and stunning mid-tempo “Indulge In Color,” was beyond good, and “Little Men” could have been heard on any Evergrey release. The pulverizing piano chords, and vibe of the mesmerizing, gripping, and heartfelt “And Yet” will bring tears to your eyes, and “The Last of Me” is fantastic, with an incredible musical accompaniment. A cover of U2’s “New Year’s Day,” was outstanding, and the title song, is a synthesizer-heavy affair, devastating in its delivery, with a bass guitar solo that simply has to be heard.
Holy hell, in every way possible, this was an amazing collection of songs. Just as a thought though, Long Night’s Journey Into Day, has brought Redemption into a world of music that is so familiar in its delivery and sound as any Evergrey release, and a few times a check had to be done that this wasn’t Evergrey, but it was in fact, Redemption. Still, though, words fail to put into perspective just how wonderful it was to sit through each song. To pick out a highlight is impossible as each song pushed the CD forward, and it became a chore to have to wait until the next song came into focus. Certainly, to be one of 2018’s showcase releases, Redemption has taken a sensitive matter, written songs about that horror, and presented it with respect, warmth, and talent.
In closing, we are asked by Hardrockhaven.net webmaster and our editor to never write in the first person, but in this case, I hope my friends will indulge me when I say as emphatically, and as forcefully as I can, and without reservation – fuck you American radio for ignoring Redemption.
Genre: Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Power Metal
Band:
Nick Van Dyk – guitars, keyboards
Chris Quirarte – drums
Sean Andrews -bass
Tom Englund – vocals
Vikram Shankar – keyboards
Track Listing:
1. Eyes You Dare Not Meet in Dreams
2. Someone Else’s Problem
3. The Echo Chamber
4. Impermanent
5. Indulge in Color
6. Little Men
7. And Yet
8. The Last of Me
9. New Year’s Day
10. Long Night’s Journey into Day
Label: Metal Blade Records
Online: www.redemptionweb.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(9 / 10)
