It doesn't really get any
better than Primordial. Epic album after epic album. They've sat at the top of
all forms of metal for many years now, and Redemption at the Puritan's Hand is
another notch in their belt of sheer dominance.
The funny thing is this isn't a Primordial album like any other. It's more
subdued. They continue to build songs in epic fashion, starting slow, gathering
momentum and ending with you on the edge of your seat. There's also a maturity
to this album that takes it to another level though. Nemtheanga is on point
throughout, and he's the overwhelming wow factor, from the passion he delivers
in his vocals, to the actual lyric writing itself. It is extremely powerful
stuff.
Musically, it's not quite on par with the past couple of releases, but the
downgrade is minimal. This is still an outstanding album on its own. The riffing
is interesting, and there are quite a few tracks that slow the tempo down
further than you would be prone to expect. There are also more than a few
sections throughout that are quite catchy that will register in your mind.
It's a complete album, no filler, and while I wouldn't place it above Gathering
Wilderness, To The Nameless Dead or Storm Before Calm, I would say it holds
together front to back better than those albums do.
In all, this album is more of an experience than anything else. It's a real look
at life through Nemtheanga's eyes, with an epic backdrop and a ton of heart and
soul. A must for any Primordial fan, which honestly, anyone who listens to metal
should be at this point.
