There's been a segment of the scene for some time now that's been crying for Living Sacrifice to return to their death metal roots (weren't their roots speed/thrash?). Well kids, SOUP'S ON!!! This is as close as you're going to get, and it's close enough for me.
That said, Soul Embraced sounds almost nothing like the old LS death albums.
I'd describe the overall sound as Diatribes era Napalm Death meets current Living Sacrifice (imagine that!) meets Kekal. Sound interesting? Honestly, when you put it all together it doesn't really seem all that remarkable of a combination. Start out, for example, with a fast flatpicked melody over a snare blast, then slip into a low chunky groove riff with some occasional noisy dissonance, all held together with modern American style death. Cool! Several of the songs seem to really follow the same pattern which does get a touch formulaic, but at least it's a decent formula. D mentioned in his review that the guitar sounds thin sometimes, which frankly I don't hear at all, my only complaint sound-wise is that the snare sounds small and hollow as opposed to tight and biting, but otherwise thumbs-up.
One song that stands out on the album is "My Tourniquet", which I'd heard on mp3.com and a sampler before this came out, and if anybody has heard just that song, it does NOT paint an accurate portrait of the rest of the cd. It's one of my favorites on here, but I know some people heard its mid-paced groove and wondered if the rest was going to be faster... if this describes you be assured that this song is not indicative of the album as a whole.
Anyway, I don't seem to be nearly as excited about this as D is, but I have had their Fleshless EP for a while, which appears (minus 1 track that absolutely ROCKED!) at the end of the album, and had some idea what to expect. The one thing I didn't expect was the dentistry theme in the cover/insert, and I don't quite understand that -- I'd rather they'd have used the space to print the lyrics from the Fleshless songs (which aren't even LISTED anywhere on the insert!), but whatever. If you're a death head, I'm sure you'll be quite satisfied with Soul Embraced.
8.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #89Reviewed by Jason DoddApparently Rocky Gray and Lance Garvin cannot get enough of the Metal from just playing in Living Sacrifice. Their compulsion is our good fortune, when it takes the 100% Pure Metal form of Soul Embraced. The production is so sharp on For the Incomplete, that their songs actually feel metallic - every string piercing the ear, and every drum beat pinging beneath the thunder. Speed breakdowns…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestSoul Embraced is a trio consisting of two members of Living Sacrifice (Lance Garvin & Rocky Gray) and vocalist Chad Moore. The music on this record is what Living Sacrifice might have sounded like today if they hadn't strayed away from their death metal path in the mid nineties. Yes, Soul Embraced is death metal and sounding pretty good too. This disc contains 11 songs of which four are…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerI've been playing Gauntlet: Dark Legacy on Playstation 2 this past week, and you know how as your character gains levels, becomes more powerful, and finds items, he/she starts looking more and more formidable? New armor, bigger weapons, a more confident swagger. That's what Soul Embraced is like. I mean, at their core they're still old school death metal, but two of the guys in the band (Living…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by NecRoSarXPlease excuse me whilst I shiver in complete ecstasy. What can I say? Other than For the Incomplete is a collection of some of the finest neo-death metal sounds I've ever heard since Living Sacrifice decided to get reborn. I say "neo-death metal" because, despite Soul Embraced being comprised of members of afore mentioned Living Sacrifice, ahem, THIS IS NOT TO BE LUMPED WITH THE GENERAL…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by the ProjectHOLY SMOKES!!!!!!! Soul Embraced is awesome!!! This new Solid State band is totally amazing. MY GOD I LOVE THIS ALBUM! I only wish this were released a long time ago. This disk is one disk you must have! I REPEAT YOU NEED TO BUY THIS DISK!!!!! It is so awesome. For the Incomplete is such a raw album. It is metal core/death metal frenzy. Also Rocky Gray from Living Sacrifice plays for this band so…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by D_ListerDid someone just give me a Halloween's day present or what? I suppose I'll probably face some flame over the mention of a pagan holiday, but I can't help it. This CD is simply put SCARY. Truly this album is terror filled americana styled death metal. Brutal, yes it's brutal, but it's also beyond brutal. Intense, certainly intense but more than just that. This album has that terrifying sound that…Similar sounding releases
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