(RockAndMetal.com) (12/08/03)

By Michael Bennett

NEW BEDFORD, MA - BEYOND THE EMBRACE's follow-up to their debut album, "Against The Elements," is in the process of being recorded.

Entitled "Insect Song," the album is being produced by Ken Susi from the band UNEARTH.

Singer Sean Gallagher comments: "I'm really looking forward to hearing what our next CD is going to sound like. Our new songs are much more involved musically than most of our songs in the past."

"I believe we've evolved musically, some of our new songs are heavier than usual and some are more rockin' than usual."

"It's definitely going to be a very diverse album for us, and for Ken Susi as a producer.

I feel that our three guitarists (Oscar, Jeff, & Alex) need to be heard individually among a tight mix, and I'm confident that Ken will get the best mix and the best takes out of them as well as out of myself during the vocal tracking."

"I'm confident that the next Beyond The Embrace CD will sound huge, and hit a lot of people harder than our debut CD, Against the Elements."

Lead guitarist Oscar Gouveia had this to say: "Beyond the Embrace is very excited to be going back into the studio to start recording our next CD, Insect Song."

"We're also looking forward to working with Ken Susi from Unearth."

"Being a guitar player himself, we feel that if any producer could get us the right guitar tones in the studio for this next record, it would be him."

"We'll be entering Ken's studio in mid-December and hopefully be done by mid-January."

Producer Ken Susi also commented: "Beyond the Embrace are from Massachusetts so it's a real honor not only to be recording a fellow Metal Blade artist, but also a band that's from my area."

"I am hoping to get some great tones out of the guys, and looking to pave the way for their first 'real' release.

I really want to set precedence - not only for Beyond the Embrace and this album - but also to establish myself as a producer."

"I want to make sure that everything for this album is perfect. This is a great opportunity for me. I am looking forward to working with them."

BEYOND THE EMBRACE is a six piece metal outfit hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts.

They weave aggression into melody, with catchy overtones, and enough twin guitar harmonies to ignite the soul.

Stylistically, BEYOND THE EMBRACE incorporates a vast collection of influences, ranging from early Bay-Area Thrash to Melodic Death Metal.

Beginning in January 2000, Shawn Gallagher and Oscar Gouveia enlisted friends and former band-mates to spawn BEYOND THE EMBRACE.

The band quickly broke into the local scene, and made an immediate impact with their rousing live performances (featuring a three guitar onslaught) and adrenaline-fueled cover versions of classic songs such as, Iron Maiden's 'The Trooper.'

In mid-2001, the band came to the attention of Metal Blade Records via a demo review in Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine.

A stellar review led to Metal Blade contacting the group, a subsequent meeting/live showcase, and a final recording deal.

BEYOND THE EMBRACE represents everything that the American metal audience has been gravitating toward lately: True musicianship, melody fused with forceful delivery and -- most importantly -- actual songs.

BEYOND THE EMBRACE's triple guitar fury is practically unmatched in the current crop of underground metal bands, with the band's philosophy being, "If we put it on the record, we have to be able to pull it off live," and they do.

Gallagher points out that while their love of current (Ever Grey, In Flames, Soilwork) and old school (Iron Maiden, Slayer, Megadeth) Metal bands drives their creativity, he felt that no one band was giving him everything he needed when he was just an ordinary fan.

Therefore, he and Gouveia created their version of what they thought the "perfect" modern metal band should be.

With an average of 24 years old, BEYOND THE EMBRACE compose and perform with the savvy of metal veterans.

Rounded out by guitarists Jeff Saude and Alex Bothelo, bass player Adam Gonsalves and drummer Kevin Camille, their debut release, "Against The Elements," was a very impressive one.

Produced by the band, the final mixes were dealt to Bay Area producer extrodinaire Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios, with the result being a sonic barrage of finesse and power.

"Against The Elements" was released in May of 2002.

Since then, BEYOND THE EMBRACE has toured nationally with such bands as Opeth, Lacuna Coil, Kataklysm, Misery Index, Divine Empire, and more.

Copyright 2003-2008 Internet Music Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

---

[Top]