(Melodic Death Metal [with metalcore elements]) Embers - The Gods Are Traitors - 2007, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Embers' existed since 1998. In the beginning Embers was only a project of a local (Szombathely/Hungary) old-school band called United Side. We played new-school style like Kickback, All Out War or Integrity. After one year there was a vocalist-change in the band and we started to write metallic songs more and more. We played that time tons of shows with bands like All Out War, Shai Hulud, etc. Afterwards three members left us, so we were looking for new guys. From 2000 wed had a certain line-up with a new drummer and bassguitarist. The first MCD was recorded with this line-up. At first it was self-released it with the title The birds fly again.... In 2002 the austrian Burning Season Records released it once again with a new layout. But at the same time the line-up changed from time to time. Its hard to remember how many guitarists and drummers had played in our band. Then in the december of 2003. we joined the Beniihana-team and they released our first full-lenght The first squall of an evil storm. Weve had shows in many european countries but we want more. After some line-up changes with a new drummer and a new bassguitarist it seems that Embers is more solid and harder than ever. We try to play so many shows as possible and try to acquaint so many people as possbile with the name, the music and the message of the Embers. Embers music is characterized by the positive emotionalism of hardcore and raw power of metal. The name sums up the message and the aim. Embers, like a light in the grey and indifferent world and in the money-oriented, apathetic and misanthropic society. Lost in a life what's ruled by selfish political authorities. The light always gives you hope to find the way out. Personal experiences, disappointment, suffering show the right way to get through a positive inner change what helps stepping forward. This is what Embers is about. In april of 2007. our 2nd LP came out in the title of "The Gods are Traitors".We recorded our first video for the one of song of this LP,and we had release-tour in some of european countries and over all Hungary. In 2008. we started to write the songs for the new LP we're planing to release in the next year,and we're still on tour playing at some festivals.
Metal Archives Review

Decent album with some nice riffs to headbang - 68%
First of all, I'm not very satisfied with my home country's (Hungarian) metal scene. I have to admit that I don't even deal with it much because after several attempts I gave up. Reason: I was quite disappointed with the usually very bad quality and idealess songs.
But due to free gigs and boring Saturdays, sometimes I get acquainted with national bands, whose live performance inspires me to give their records one listen. And this was the very situation in case of Embers. Fortunately this - basically metalcore - band has rather death metal influences in their music than emo, so their sound is at least not bothering for those who are still persisting in metal. Darkest Hour must have been a great inspiration for them, so DH fans may give it a try.
The first 10 seconds of the intro song are so damn trashy, during this period a thought of turning off the whole for ever ran through my mind but fortunately the expected quality arrived soon. And yeah, this band is musically skilled indeed, but the recording quality leaves some to be desired. However, the biggest problem with this record is that it doesn't have any highlight. It kicks my face with constant drift, but there aren't any outstanding, ear-catching tune or face-ripping riff. Despite all these things, it still can be amusing if we have replayed Darkest Hour's albums for 1000 times and want a little break.
So, the title song, „The Gods Are Traitors” is based on guitar arpeggios, which make it interesting for the first listen, but somehow the vocals are plain (cardinally because of the bad quality sound engineering, though Szilárd is a good frontman), and the finishing riffs are a bit low for an intro song. The songs usually start energetically, there are some nice, ear-caressing tunes and sometimes I get the impression that the music of Embers exceeds the borders of being a boring, cliche-hunting local band, especially within „Empathy Is Killed”, which is one best part of the record. Anyway, in certain cases the guitar riffs remind me to ones that little kids play at their very first rehearsal, but usually all the songs can be categorized as good party songs, just nothing more.
Guys are experimenting with clean vocals in „Within My Soul” and that could have spiced up the stuff but instead I'd rather say it sucks a bit and should have been omitted. However, melodies usually inject some life into the songs and save them from being totally forgettable.
„The Mission Is Murder” recalls Heaven Shall Burn, actually this one is a mixture of HSB and Darkest Hour style elements. Not bad, but lacks that little extra, that would make it a piece signed by Embers. This is a typical example for my former statement that the music of these guys is amusing if you listen to one of their songs amidst the songs of an A-list metalcore band.
About the end the tracks are well placed, „Broken Hopes, Broken Lives” is the most melancholic song, the breakdown at the middle can sound a bit odd but I think it makes the whole more interesting and the development is really nice, but on the contrary to the previous songs, this one should have been a little bit longer. This song is simply chopped, but maybe it's better than a piano solo at the end.
Conclusion: while listening to the whole record at one go, sometimes I get the impression that the processing of a song is predictable, and I find myself unintentionally losing attention at about the half of the album, which doesn't mean good. However this is an album that I can replay with pleasure for a few time so it couldn't be so bad. The length is in harmony with the quality - neither less nor more than my satisfaction threshold.
Uncreativeness, predictability, flatness and bad mastering take back a huge 40% from 100%, but I give an extra 10% for being still quite amusing and pure metal, because sometimes it's enough to save the boring moments. Minus 2% for the cheesy beginning and ending. As you can see, this album has left a lot of antinomic feelings inside me, but I can say with confidence, that Embers is still one of the best extreme metal acts in Hungary and I would reserve a place for them in the fictional "Hungarian Extreme Metal Hall of Fame".
If you fancy listening to this album I recommend that you start with these songs: "Empathy Is Killed", "We Are The Weapon" and "Broken Hopes, Broken Lives".

Eric Bass
Gyuszi Drums
See also: ex-Csejtey
Aron Guitars
Farki Guitars
Szilard Vocals