Death metal | Metal | Thrash
70%
Embers Ignite—Visions of a Dying World EP (2023)
Details
All music and lyrics written by Embers Ignite (Rick Hayward). Mixed and mastered by Thomas Berdal Audio. Artwork “Into The Void” by Mark Thomas. Logo by Black Upheaval. Released on Friday 1 December 2023.
FFO: In Flames, Machine Head, The Black Dahlia Murder, Dark Tranquillity, Skeletonwitch
Band
- Rick Hayward—All vocals and instruments
Tracks
- The world burns (3:30)
- The prophecy (3:54)
- Humanity crumbles (3:47)
- The aftermath part 1. What we’ve lost (1:34)
- The aftermath part 2. A new beginning (3:05)
Review
After four months hiatus while I dealt with some serious health issues and then lost my job, I’m finally back behind the keyboard listening to the newest and loudest releases in the world of metal.
Visions of a Dying World (2023) is the second EP from High Peak, Derbyshire (England) based metal artist Rick Hayward’s solo project Embers Ignite.
The project was started in September 2022 by Rick Hayward, with the debut self-titled EP released in March 2023. Since then, the band has released an epic reimagining of Rainbow’s classic “Stargazer” in June 2023, and a faithful rendition of “Behind Space” by In Flames in October 2023.
This EP features five tracks of crushing brutality and groove-laden melodic death metal. Taking influence from death, thrash, groove, and melodic death metal, Embers Ignite is known for their signature sound that has garnered a loyal following among metal fans.
“The world burns” (track 1) tears off the starting line with a fury and determination that captures the aggression and energy of old school thrash with some nods to melodic death metal but with the clarity of modern production. This is a promising start.
“The prophecy” (track 2) builds a whirlwind of drums and crushing guitars around a simple melody that would oddly make for the perfect daytime TV drama theme tune. Maybe without the onslaught of hell that accompanies it. “Humanity crumbles” (track 3) opens with a childlike tune played on what sounds like a small glockenspiel. This is soon echoed by guitars, bass and drums and we’re off… another thrashing, death-fuelled anthem.
The EP ends with the two-part instrumental “The aftermath part 1. What we’ve lost” (track 4) and “The aftermath part 2. A new beginning” (track 5). Part one opens with rainfall and thunder followed by a gentle and melodic tune arpegiated on bass and guitar. In the distance the thrashing guitars build until they are unleashed with vengeance in the slightly longer part two.
Conclusion
While I have had long enough to listen to this—I’ve been listening to it off and on for the last few months—I’m still not entirely sure what I think of it. The production is fabulous, the artwork impressive and the musicianship and songwriting is flawless. It just doesn’t… move me emotionally. If anything it’s maybe just a little too clinical. That said, it does keep drawing me back so there is… something. Maybe it’s because I’ve had my own visions of my past life and world dying around me; perhaps this is just a little too raw for me just now.
Review score: 70%
Video
Disclosure
Grand Sounds PR contacted me inviting me to preview Embers Ignite’s forthcoming album, thank you. I have no connections to either Grand Sounds PR or Embers Ignite. I’m not being paid to review this, but I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to Grand Sounds PR, and to Embers Ignite for continuing to create fresh, exciting new music.