Album Details

• Artist: Embodyment
• Album: The Narrow Scope Of Things
• Label: Tooth & Nail
• Year of Release: 2000
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2007-07-17

Not a lot of bands can sincerely draw a comparison to The Deftones from me, but Embodyment, live or dead, christian or not, most certainly does that. Not the vocals are not Chino, but they're better all on their own.  More like Mixing Lajon of Sevendust and Chino of The Deftones, Sean Corbray joined the band for their sophomore effort The Narrow Scope of Things.  While some might argue this was the beginning of the end for a band that became watered down to say the least, no one can take away the beauty and absorbant raw peltering strength of this album.

Let's start off slow and progress like almost every song on this record. Tempted to call it Emo-Metal, TNSOT has melodies, power and hooks like nobody's business. Track five Confessions has a reverberating sound of echoes, and faders with a teasing tempo and eclectic sound so very perfect for Corbrays pipes.  Soft and powerfully scratchy all at the same time, this song will eventually let loose. After some loose bassline bridges, and a backbone drumbeat the guitars walk slowly throughout for the most part, but this song is only the starter.

 Track two Pendulum nearly makes this disc worth its price for one song. Sure its long armed simplistic chords sound token and childish, but the part it plays with the the lead vocals is simply hard to ignore. Starting off slow and storyteller like, Corbray speaks soft, eventually a chord of neck muscles bulging out consumes your ability to breathe. Red in the face, the song takes another break, for each chorus verse chorus.  That is of course till the vortex of the song comes spindling into a sick little solo one two one two fretter. The rhythm guitars dorp out for just enough time to get an understanding of the bass.Then Corbray shows his chops. "RIIIIIPPED!!! AND TORN AT THE SEAMS!!!!" Fairly amplified by soundboard distortion, though I got to say, while I'm far from prejudice, most white men would kill for Corbray's lung capacity.

  The very next track One Less Addiction is absolutely the strongest track here. Though another slow starter, should be considered the blueprint for all up and coming progressive metal bands. Forget the lyrics of intertwining christianity and life, forget the energy for once, it's just one of those songs you can step right into the studio they were recording in when you listen. As for the slow start, dont dispell, this song has many trips and does manage an all out let her rip with a phenomenal full chord bridge and outro towards the end.  Bonus...the last track of the album is a stripped acoustic version of these guys, pretty much explaining why their sound dripped off so much after this record. Then again everyone does.

 Other songs with sick grooves, and metallic vibes include Greedy Hands, Assembly Line Humans and my personal favorite Killing The Me In Me. A Bashing intro and sound from start to end, this song has a tendency to slow down to a ripping bassline and guitars of industrialistic echoes only to fight back during the blitzing chorus. So simplisitic throughout the album, Killing The Me In Me is perfect example as to why you don't always need mind spinning guitar work to be completely enthralled with a sound. And once again, Corbray comes with an intimidating mix of screamer/sing vocals that few have managed in the genre.

Embodyment may not have, well 'embodied' the pop music scene, or even your local region, but they are truly, one of the pace setters of Metal history thanks to this fine audio masterpiece. Another indie classic...

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2007-08-15 SolitaryMan Said:

So I'm checking this album out now (thanks to Brian for the rec.) and, to my ears, they're a wonderful mix of alt-metal styles similar to bands like Sevendust, Deftones and Coal Chamber. Their sense of crushing melody and the chug-along mannerism in their playing really makes for a good head-banger of an album. Corbray has wonderful range and really makes the experience something special. Any fans of the previously mentioned bands or metal/hard rock in general, do yourself a favor and get your hands on "The Narrow Scope Of Things".
Rating: 7/10