Embodyment - The Narrow Scope of Things (2000)
This is not the Embodyment of old. This is a new vocalist and an emotional hardcore approach much like Korn or the Deftones mixed with some mellow tracks where the vocals sound like Hootie and the Blowfish! On the plus side, while most the vocals are of the "emo" variety they are clear and emotional without that usual nasal whine that tends to accompany emo-core bands. There is a lot of talent here and the production is great, it's just that listening to this (being an old Embodyment fan) can really throw one for a loop! Track one is a superb mellow emo track that can really pull the listener in with repeated listens. Track two, with it's Korn influenced riffs, is the first glimpse of "hardcore" promise on here with an emotional hardcore approach similar to Staind and Deftones. The biggest problem I can see here is it is very disjointed and doesn't really flow well. The songs (although all unique and independent of each other) don't seem to belong on the same album. The first half of the disc being more "emo" and the second half being more "hardcore". Overall this should do pretty well for the band as it is catchy with modern groove guitars. -- Review by Norm