When the sun goes down, the darkness falls upon the city and all the respectable citizens go to bed, THEY come along out of their lairs to rule the night time world. Nothing can save you from the dark chords, archetypical riffs, filigree arrangements, almost mystic complexity and melodies based on the deep stately march of the bass guitar riding the ferocious drum beat. Forget all the romantic nonsense – it’s thrash! Some people would call it the most sacred word for all true metal heads: “old school” metal! Yes, it’s almost that very old school thrash metal, which takes your breathe away, explores your unconsciousness, runs through your veins, drives you insane, in one word, makes you happy! Everything here is clear: either you hear the “melody” in it and love it to death, or you take it just as a noise without any regularity, don’t understand and don’t like it at all. And on “Insect Song” you will not find any regularity or standard things, unless the very high standard and quality of the work.

The opener “”Fleshengine Breakdown” takes you under a spell and will never let you go: what is really amazing – their three guitarists get on with each other pretty well. And while rhythm-guitar players Jeff Saude and Alex Botelho produce a riff barrage in the rear, lead guitarist Oscar Gouveia alone with his guitar is the vanguard of the fanciful melody, not only “making leads” but “leading” the song to the unknown expanses, especially on “Plague”, “Redeemer”, “Weak And The Wounded”, “Absent” and “Within”. It is the lead guitar, what makes these tracks so remarkable. The drummer Kevin Camille promises to become a musician of the highest level likes names as Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre).

The “throat” Shawn Gallagher will sometimes remind you of James Hetfield, sometimes Tom Araya, Steve Tucker or Steve Souza and even inimitable unique Paul Baloff during some moments on “Redeemer”.

For fairness sake I should say they are still much better instrumentalists than the composers. But the guys play in one of the most difficult music style both in composition and arrangement and in playing; and they are the latest, but already better then many others. And six guys of Beyond The Embrace want more. Their debut album “Against The Elements” 2002 got positive reviews from critics, and they try to be even more professional with their second release having collaborated with a new producer Ken Susi (Unearth). As a result the album is really complete and balanced. It will be heard!

As for the songs, I personally like the track called “Redeemer” with its guitar trilling the most. It’s the top of their creativity, one of the songs you will not be able to forget. Also the closing tracks “Weak And The Wounded”, “Absent” and especially “Within” are absolutely mind-blowing. They have a sense, a wonderful structure, and a speed… Powerful “Insect Song” and “Plague” have all the reasons to become hits. “My Fall” is also rather good, but it has some innuendos of power metal guitar style. And for the dessert: less then 3 minutes long instrumental piece “Ashes” – mysterious and meditative. It is just as impressive as “Planet Caravan” of Black Sabbath. It rises visual pictures: you almost see the scenes of fire, the caravans leaving towards the sunset. Amazing album! These guys are extremely talented and they are going to conquer the world. What did I start with? Oh, yeah, when the sun goes down…Are you ready?