Redemption = Rosetta Stone + The Church + The Cult
The first track on Home, "Times Like These" is a goth-rock heartwarmer to gently pull you into the netherworld that is Redemption, but the real darkness of their power kicks in with the hard guitar strokes of "Disillusion." Redemption is like the Sandman brought to life: edgy, mysterious, not black and white but grey, aloof and cold--yet strangely warm and comforting. Don't ask how Neil Gaiman did it, and don't ask Miah how he does it. With every word, Redemption's music gives you this weird hope where there was none. Excellent production, magnificent orchestral arrangements and gutsy instrument variation, like cool bongo drums on "Absolution," are sure to launch patent-leather sex-fiends Redemption onto even more recognition in the international goth world. 
http://www.redemptiononline.com
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From their excellent, busy ‘The Further We Fall’ Redemption have definitely gone up a notch with this relaxed album, to a point where they’re exuding real class, but haven’t quite shaken off their strongest influence, which is when we’ll see them glowing in the contemporary darkness.

‘Times Like These’ stamps its identity into your face but right away there is trouble because the traces of the Eldritch delivery Miah uses are unnecessary and obvious, even popping in that extra syllable sometimes. (Rain becomes ruhhain.) Musically the song sounds great, especially the deft bass background, and the tension is nicely balanced, giving the song a real sense of life. Vocally it is proud and confident, chewy synth sugars the bitter, brilliant guitar and it’s melodically memorable. ‘Disillusion’ has a clever swoosh, and bubbling build, with the unnaturally protracted vocals draped over these patient strands. Guitar begins to flash like pulsing lights, and as the song kicks in you realise they’re one of the best guitar Goth bands around. It’s that simple, because they just have it, which is why Miah needs to drop the forced singing and rely upon himself. They’ve got it, and don’t need to project an accepted Goth face. 

The stunning chorus swells emotionally:

“Where do you run to when the light dies, 
and your dreams have washed away, 
Where do you go to where the rain falls, 
at the break of day, 
I’ll give you shelter from the deluge, 
with the hope I’ve found, 
I’ll lift you up and keep you safe
on the higher ground”

Cracking stuff, where the guitar buoys it up further, and you bounce off with them. ‘Absolution’ is slower but seeps gloriously over its desolate mood with firm percussive traits and ushering synth ‘After Burn’ has feisty synth chatter and a rolling rhythm, but while the vocals aren’t standing out, musically it becomes more invigorating the longer it wriggles and he starts to grow louder.

‘Home’ offers up a lower sound, doomed lyrics and dark, wiry guitar chafing, and the pleasing trad Goth curvature, and if you can predict what they’re going to do next because the S*s*e*s songbook has fallen open again, that’s no bad thing as the synth potters happily, and the tune is springy, not drab. The lyrics even have a plain feel to them but it fits. They just seem to enjoy the knack of making things work.

‘Pulse’ is slower and tapered, with dark vocals pressed up against the invisible screen between their sound and our minds, as we share the lyrical story; the guitar providing comfort as we are drawn further in. Slowly the more archly adopted Goth styling isn’t so noticeable, and his more relaxed normal voice is far more fitting: still dark, but the lighter tone is far more expressive. If he sticks with it he’ll also find it’s more fluid and less of an obstacle. The song has a subtle ache, bleeding with guitar; joyous, but in a downplayed, sustained way that you have to love. It’s gorgeously restrained and all the more effective because of it.

“You’re my faith, you’re my hope, you’re my religion
You’ve got your finger on the pulse of soul
You’ve cast aside all my doubt, and my indecision
Lift me up, take me high and you make me feel
……whole.”

Magnificent. ‘Your Arms’ is a fidgeting thing, with beefier guitar and a portly demeanour, with the guitar a bit full on and morose, and it’s not the spryest tune here, and while ‘Doubt And Circumstance’ ends well, with flattened rhythm and the scuffed synth, we go back again to old gawf vocals, circa ‘Something Fast’, but at least the lyrical style differs despite the way they fit the expected shapes. 

So it does tail off, when you’re aware, as you will be upon hearing this, of just what potential they have, but more than half of this is stirring stuff - if you only hear ‘Pulse’ and ‘Disillusion’ this year you’ll be a happy little Goth - so when they start to accept how good they are, as themselves, and the final fancies fall away, the next one should be very, very special. In the meantime you’ll have to make do with this, which is merely brilliant. 

http://www.redemptiononline.com
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The music is exquisitely complex, the vocals are deep and gothic, and the lyrics call to one's soul.  Though they have only produced two albums to date, the sound far exceeds the typical underground "garage" band. Reminiscent of the dark 80's sound, with a bit of the 90's and today thrown in, this CD would be appreciated by both old school and younger generations alike. It is surprising that they have not yet been "discovered" by one of the larger labels. Hopefully that will be remedied very soon.
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Here is a special treat that gothic rock fans are going to love.  Being a local act to our scene, I have been hearing about the release of this album for some time now.  Due to the style of the group and hearing a lot of the progress of the band, it was with much anticipation that I awaited the release of this work.  It's finally out and available to the public in the form of a nicely done short album, professionally printed and released, although still self-released by the band.

Just comparing the two works from this band, if you enjoyed the first, then you'll love this second, longer work.  If you can divine the content of a package by its cover, then the cover of this album reveals the further work and production over their previous EP.  Containing eight excellent tracks with great production and sound, this is truly the album we've been waiting for.

The instant hit and destined club classic kicks off the album in solid style and dark fashion.  After a short intro of synths and building to driving beats, the crushing guitars kick in and we're left with over seven minutes of "Times Like These".  This track is put together so well, the vocals are smooth and build to intense rock proportions while the crunching guitars and bass move on in a steady wave as various electronics provide a backdrop like a scenic sunset at the end of the long and winding road on the horizon.

Just within the notes of this first masterpiece we have a well-defined architecture that speaks volumes about the entire album.  Overall the gothic rock structure dominates the inner threads of this work.  There is enough variety to keep the average listener interested and attentive throughout the entire work.  Many have something of a slower introduction that build in intensity and the tempo catches hold through dynamic driving beats such as in the introductory work, or even the more dynamic piece "Disillusion".  This latter work starts with a lot of electronics and a slowly building beat dominated with angst-ridden deep vocals slowly moving along until everything kicks in together to accelerate and build to a bombastic climax.  Another stellar track and favorite of mine somewhat along these lines of starting small and building is the title track "Home".  Much like "Times Like These", the intensity continues to build for a beautiful gem.

Solid ballad-like anthems also make themselves apparent on this album in the form of "Absolution", "Pulse" and the finale to the album "Doubt and Circumstance".  Each features a more subdued pace while maintaining that same high intensity through layers of guitars, electronics, percussion and raw emotion.  Nearing the end of the album as the penultimate track is "Your Arms" which after a short intro carries the intensity through to the very last note.  This sets the album up perfectly for the finale mentioned above to wrap up the album nicely.

While the work is short, not totally an entire album and featuring eight tracks, it's something that fans can really sink their teeth into.  There are a lot of comparisons to gothic rock greats of the 90's, but this band really has a solid style with unique elements of their own they can build on.  This album shows the progression and dynamic nature we can enjoy and hope for more of the same in the future.
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