Emmure

Slave To The Game

Written by: AP on 24/03/2012 01:21:43

By now it should be obvious that Emmure will never write an intelligent album. The band's intentions are no more ambitious than to continue catering to a very dedicated niche of followers, who under the protection of ignorance, continue to believe that Emmure is one of the heaviest, most brutal bands in the world, and as such, worthy of some recognition. This new creation, "Slave to the Game", was swiftly composed less than one year after the release of "Speaker of the Dead" (though if given more time, it is highly improbable that its quality would have improved) and follows its formula without exception.

Emmure are essentially hindered by two elements: vocalist Frankie Palmeri with his hip-hop stylings, and the four remaining musicians 90% of the time. The band's music seems to be dictated by a philosophy of breakdowns first, but when the four unhinge themselves from the monotonous chugging and allow subtle melodies to creep into the melee, such as in singles "Protoman" and "MDMA" somewhat later, there is actually a slight nuance of promise to be found in the music. Indeed, given the marred definition of what constitutes djent nowadays, some of the stuff churned out Jesse Ketive and Mike Mulholland qualifies as such, albeit in the not-so-innovative corner of the genre, and in these brief moments one begins to understand the allure of this band in certain circles.

But because so much of the album's running length is devoted to riffs of the lowest common denominator so as to provide an appropriate foundation for Palmeri's frustrating inanity as a vocalist, and especially lyricist, the inevitable outcome is that "Slave to the Game" is unlikely to convince the hating masses to stop the hetz this time either. Small wonder, given that just three purposes come to mind for Emmure's music: moshing, trolling, and revenging your neighbors for throwing a party the night before an important exam.

The tragedy is that Emmure fail miserably even at writing a decent pit soundtrack; one needs only to look Bury Your Dead's way to find songs that are heavier, better written, and, crucially, in possession of solid grooves that demand movement. That this review bothers to mention just two songs - the only ones worthy of mention - should be a strong cue as to the monotony and alarming lack of ideas that characterize "Slave to the Game". Just as the artwork suggests it may have been created effortlessly in Paint by a 9-year old, so, too, does the music within its covers bear the mark of a juvenile band without the knack or wit to write functional, enjoyable songs.

4

Download: Protoman, MDMA
For the fans of: The Acacia Strain, Bury Your Dead, King Conquer
Listen: Facebook

Release date 10.04.2012
Victory Records

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