The chances of one liking Emmure is determined if they can withstand an album chock full of breakdowns. Not just a breakdown here or there–no way–this is a situation where the album is one giant breakdown that also gave birth to little breakdowns and… hell, you get the picture.
Anyway, Emmure are back with another slab of hate in the form of Speaker Of The Dead. This new album sees the band continuing with their self prescribed hate and meticulous beatings. Even though not much has changed in the breakdown department, the songs do have a touch of experimentation that bleeds in and out of the new songs, basically giving Emmure‘s relentless beating a trace of soul.
Now, Emmure are one of my favorites not just because of the brute strength but rather it’s because of Frankie’s lyrics and the overall sense of the world crashing down on one’s head. The way he executes his vocal delivery is untouched in the world of ‘mosh’ heavy bands — especially on this new album as songs such as “4 Poisons 3 Words,” “Cries Of Credo,” and “Lights Bring Salvation” will testify. Plus, Frankie even throws in a Street Fighter reference in “Demons with Ryu” with the opening phrase Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku (or Ryu’s hurricane kick for those that don’t know.)
The album is a wet dream for us mosh warriors and to be honest lets face it: Haters gonna hate. This is an album made to start wars; breakdowns run the gamut here and it’s perfectly fine in the grand scheme of things. There is a one downside though. Since there are so many breakdowns on this album, there are only a few that truly standout from the crowd. Most notably on “Demons With Ryu” (1:20), “Solar Flare Homicide” (2:20), “Dogs Get Put Down” (1:40), and “My Name Is Thanos” (the whole thing). Chugging riffs galore — hands down some of the coolest breakdowns my ears have heard!
Emmure also touch base on making their music unique, there’s no other band that sounds like Emmure. Case closed. Take a song like “Bohemian Grove” for example. They add a more sludge sound to the mix complete with touches of despair and tremolo riffs. The song has a lot more melody underlining the sound especially towards the end with a sick melodic lead over the rhythm. And “Last Words To Rose” sees the band going on a journey not heard since the majestic “Sleeping Princess In Devils Castle” off their amazing debut album Goodbye To The Gallows. It’s a more melodic song that offers a nice change-up from the rest of the album.
The last song serves as a great outro, with a line that bleeds sincerity and is sarcastically true, “Were All Gonna Fucking Die”, but until then at least we all can enjoy the awesome music Emmure has given us.
With that being said, throw on your basketball shorts, your new kicks, and get ready to throw down as if the world is ending.
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no thank you.
also, that title sucks large. Orson Scott Card should sue them.
on May 23rd, 2011 at 10:08brilliant band.great hardcore.
on May 23rd, 2011 at 11:44I thought this was their best overall tape to date as it didn’t have any of the “whiny” talking parts so common on their last albums. There are still the pseudo-rapping talking vocals but they are much less annoying this time around. Felony had a few awesome songs but they were wildly overshadowed by a bunch of really horrible ones and also terrible parts within the good songs. This album doesn’t have any really bad parts that stand out, which seems like faint praise but I always thought this band’s problem was that they couldn’t resist shitting up otherwise good songs.
on May 23rd, 2011 at 14:36Great review Jesse.. It’s so common to see this band being dissed by everyone that it’s refreshing to see a review say it like it is. I enjoy this album greatly, I enjoy it for what it is – heavy, aggressive and mosh-fuckin-worthy.. Emmure has an intensity that, to me, is very difficult not to enjoy.
on May 23rd, 2011 at 23:34this isn’t hardcore.
on May 24th, 2011 at 00:53Thanks for the feedback fellas. Much appreesh.
on May 24th, 2011 at 02:09Not sure I would like this but can’t stop playing it here recently. Beyond heavy… The intro to “Demons With Ryu” is literally one of the most powerful I have ever heard… I can almost put it on repeat. And don’t forget the breakdown at the 1:18 mark of “Eulogy of Giants”… I almost kicked my walls down on that one.
The only thing that kills me is track twelve with spoken lyrics “I wanna watch you suck his dick”… I mean come on… That right there was almost enough to ruin a killer album.
on May 24th, 2011 at 19:03Haha I forgot about that track. I amend my previous statement to “there’s only ONE shitty part…”
on May 24th, 2011 at 19:57Whoever referred to this band/album as hardcore should’ve been aborted in the womb.
on May 25th, 2011 at 16:02Way to overreact about something fool.. You pioneer the genre or something ?
on May 25th, 2011 at 23:07