Guitarist Tom Vitacco writes and records traditional heavy metal tunes combining melodic, semi-technical riffs with scorching solos, growling bass and pounding drums. A unique blend of old school metal with hints of Thrash, Progressive and Power Metal thrown into the mix. WORWYK has been Tom's main project band for 30+ years now. WORWYK started as a "real band" back in the late 80's but after struggling for years to find like-minded musicians, Tom bought a drum machine and four-track cassette recorder and began his home recording journey in 1989. From 1990-2004, Tom released 11 albums under the moniker. while also contributing to other bands. "Dark Embrace" is his latest offering, and contains ten tracks.

The title track is the first cut. I can hear some Power Metal elements for sure...in the galloping drums and guitars. From there however, the sound gets a little darker. I am not sure who is on vocals but he has a nice voice, toggling between clean and harsh offerings, and with an excellent range. I hate to make this comment, but you can hear hints of the independent production. "Final Demise" is another murky and clouded number with suspenseful and ominous tones, as the title suggests. From an old school prospective, it sort of sounds like JUDAS PRIEST meets QUEENSRYCHE. "Blood in My Veins" is the third brooding track in a row, and where the vocals are done in nearly the same fashion as the previous tracks. The guitar work is what needs the most help here, honestly.

"Pain and Torment" is the first song with some variation, but it lasts only a few bars, and we are back to that same sound once again. I sincerely don't hope that all ten tracks sound like this. "Delusions of Grandeur" features a bit of a quicker pace, but the guitars and vocals are still mired in that mucky, depressive sound with a heavy side of longing. For a few songs on the album, this sound can be a nice change of pace, but for every track, it gets old quickly. "Twisted Mind" is a reminder that this is the sound on the album, and it's all we are going to get. Again, the guitar work here is quite simple and the band could really use work thickening up the sound with some layers. "Pit Master" is yet another song stricken with what sound like "toughness" in the vocals, but it just comes off as cheesy to me. It's a shame too, because he is pretty talented.

"Fear and Doubt" is another laborious song that just gets stuck in that wistful and languishing sound and does not come out from under it at all. "Save Your Soul" begins with some promise but falls back to that same sound once again. The guitar work is at least a little better here. "Progressions" closes the album. Promise leads to reduction once again. 11 albums with this name? Tom had got to get back out there and update his sound. While he reaches some agreeable sounds at times, the music just sounds outdated to me. Some positives? The band logo is pretty cool, as is the album cover, but the music, not so much. The production is decent, but it exposes the band for their shortcomings, which I have mentioned, so there is no need to go over them again. There was little to champion here.