Redemption

Imperative Reaction have defined a progressive electro sound in previous releases Eulogy for the Sick Child and Ruined. Redemption builds on the electro dancefloor direction set by Ruined while continuing to incorporate synth pop elements. Imperative Reaction posit an electro and lyrical style that simultaneously refers back to their former harshness while balancing smoother dance elements of acts such as Seabound, but there are new traces of aggression in the vocals and a renewed urgency in the layered melodies. The seamless fusion of a hard electro style and traces of pop is an ambitious direction that Imperative Reaction continue to bind together into a concise whole. With this method in hand, Imperative Reaction construct the sculptures of disappointment and broken relationships. "Arrogance" proves an angry opening that harks back to earlier and angrier days before drifting into a smoother electro pole with tracks like "Giving in to Change"'s direct pop feel, or "Faded into One"'s layered dance tone. The tone drifts and settles well prior to the halfway mark — from there, expect few surprises. Imperative Reaction do not seem to mind repeating and revising their formula of former success, with the strong parallels between Redemption and Ruined continuing right down the inclusion of a single female vocal track ("Maladay") proving more upbeat that its predecessor ("Disoriented"). Redemption is not an experimental release, delivering instead on all former promises and progressing the act's solid musical foundation with a new tinge of aggression, while the band's continued dancefloor focus promises further club hits.