80s Music Lover | Huntington Beach, CA | 06/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had never heard of Imperative Reaction until I saw them play live with VNV Nation at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Needless to say, I was blown away with them. They came on before VNV and I just loved their style! They are like a more polished Nine Inch Nails. After I saw them live, I had to buy their music. I purchased this one and also Ruined. Great music, great band!"
Imperative Reaction's best effort to date
Ted Del Prato | Acworth, GA | 03/16/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Since Ruined, Imperative Reaction has stepped out of the traditional distorted voice industrial sound in favor of a more mainstream electro sound. Their latest album, Redemption, remains on the same level as Ruined in terms of lyrical themes and music...but with a slightly more energized pace in most of the songs. Actually, Imperative Reaction's evolved sound found on this CD resembles Assemblage 23 in a few ways (don't get me wrong, that's a good thing). Every track could easily stand out as a single, but the hits on here are probably going to be Giving In To The Change, Fading Into One, and Redemption. The overall result is an excellent angry yet uplifting industrial/darwave record that is sure to be a hit with any electro fan that finds it. For all of you out there still stuck listening to Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy...forget them, this is what you should really be listening to."
Awesome.
Robert LaBarge | Mesa, AZ USA | 01/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hands down the best cd of 2004. This album is amazing. EBM / Industrial connoisseurs will appreciate the wide variety and vocal talent present here. Don't hesitate to buy!"
Forceful Electro Industrial - Their Best So Far
SandmanVI | Glen Allen, VA United States | 04/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Imperative Reaction are building themselves into a contender in the electro scene. They haven't quite reached the top yet, but at least they are getting closer. The music on this album is more in line with mainstream (read "cleaned up") electro futurepop than previous efforts, but you still hear the traditional industrial influence too. The songs alternate between undistorted and distorted vocals as they also flux from dirty, noisy tracks to cleaner mixes. The latter tend to be the better songs here, and at their best IR sound a lot like the Assemblage 23, while their lesser songs remind me of the weaker moments of Neuroticfish.The album starts well with the angry "Arrogance" and follows immediately with "Something I Left Behind", one of the album's best. Next come "Giving in to the Change", a dancefloor pounder that sounds like it may be the first single. "Malady" features a female guest vocalist who makes it sound like an Epsilon Minus song. "Redemption", the title track, sounds like ti is meant to be a single but it just doesn't quite work. Watch out, don't tune out too soon... the best song of all is "This Distance", the last track on the disc. This really does sound like A23 - that's a compliment. These are the strongest lyrics and vocals on the album. Sure to be heard in the clubs.By far the band's best release and sure to be on every underground DJs playlist."
Fun, catchy EBM
E. Anderson | 11/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know why I have put off buying this album for so long but I wish I didn't. I finally bought Imperative Reaction's "Redemption" cd. I first heard of the band on the 2004 release of Metropolis's yearly compilation they release. I really liked what I heard on "Giving in to the Change", the song that was on the compilation. I finally bought "Redemption" when I found a used (but in excellent condition) copy at my favorite used cd store. The music is everything that I expected it would be. There is a good mix of melodic futurepop and aggressive electro/industrial beats. Ted Phelps' vocals ranges from clean to distorted. The production is crisp and clean. My favorite song on the entire album has to be "Faded into One". I absolutely love the crisp synth beats and infectious melodies. I hope to get the band's new album "As We Fall" shortly. I definitely have become an Imperative Reaction fan."