We always have some very good music coming from Italy these days. The Metal scene of the country seems to be consolidated, so we always see good and promising works coming from Metal/Rock bands from Italian scene. Then, with a lot of effort and with great ambitions, HIDDEN RELAPSE comes showing a good work on "Redemption", their latest work. Their work is based on a blend of melodic Metal with Progressive Metal influences, using modern tunes and a very tender and catching outfit. The sound is heavy and abrasive, but with showing defined and charming melodies that are far from something extremely complex (but their instrumental technique is on a very good level). So besides it's not the eighth wonder in the Metal musical world, or even isn't the newest thing, they are pretty good, and their songs are good, with the right amount of musical weight and energy.

The sound quality is excellent, because they found a middle ground between the amount of musical weight, the technical insight and the necessary sound clarity. It's very clean, but bitterly heavy and with refined modern tunes, so they are showing what they are about. Their eight songs are very good, showing great guitar riffs, some fine keyboards parts, a technical and heavy work from bass guitar and drums, and a fine and energetic work from the vocals. So their finest moments can be heard on the heavy and energetic "Silent Sacrifice" (the blend of guitar riffs with fine keyboards is very good, and the female vocals are in great shape), the modern complexity of "Drop" (where bass guitar and drums are showing a very good work, and the chorus is truly amazing), the solid heavy insight used on "Pure", the hooking melodies shown on the accessible "Redemption", the tender harmonies that seduces us on "Compassion" and on "Awareness". I still believe that they have a way to go, and need some improvements, but for now, "Redemption" is really a good work, and bears the Italian Metal mark on it.