Review Summary: From the depths of his bedroom, Mathew Lim takes you on a journey through his life in 11 tracks of pure emotion.
I woke up today to a new shoutbox post, which rarely happens for this D-list Sputnik user. The post contained a link to an album stream, and feeling generous I decided to give it a listen. I had never heard of the artist, and with an album name like 'Impressions' I expected to hear generic metalcore. Instead, I was taken on a trip through the mind of Mathew Lim, a talented young guitarist who gives you his all through the 11 tracks featured on this album.
Kicking off with a classic rock sounding riff and intense harsh vocals, 'Impressions' takes no time throwing you into the action. Drums are blaring behind the aggressive vocals, all complementing the skillful guitar work. It all slows down, resulting in a calming melodic passage, which abruptly ends and leads to some amazing guitar solos. Mathew Lim certainly knows his way around a guitar. His blazing-fast, yet highly technical solos are found on almost all of the tracks, and each one is just as impressive as the next. However; solos are not all that this talented guitarist has to offer. He often will play beautiful, well-crafted melodic passages, showcasing a softer side of not just his guitar playing, but his vocals as well. "Novella" showcases this perfectly, starting with a slow riff and haunting vocals, all building up to an explosive solo.
Lyrically, Mathew Lim pours his heart and soul into this album. Each song tells a story, either of betrayal, hatred, anger, or even heartbreak. The lyrics are well written and delivered nicely, whether it be through his aggressive, angst-filled harsh vocals, or his soothing, calming clean vocals. His vocal performance is not to be ignored, even if you are caught up in the instruments most of the album.
Overall, this album is filled with emotion, and showcases the talent of a extremely gifted young musician. From interesting riffs, to technical solos, and even beautiful melodies, Mathew Lim will have your attention throughout the entire album, and you'll let him, as you are just as caught up listening to the music as he is playing it.
"Here's my debut album, 'Impressions'. 11 songs I wrote and recorded in my room about all the struggles I've faced. Each song has it's own story and it's own outcome. From this, I've come to realize that the hard things in life only make us stronger. I hope by listening to these eleven songs, you will be able to relate to my experiences and overcome any of life's challenges. God bless." - Mathew Lim
