Emmure “The Respect Issue”

Emmure is a metalcore/deathcore band from Connecticut/NY.

Members:

Mark Davis – Bass
Jesse Ketive – Guitar
Joe Lionetti – Drums
Ben Lionetti – Guitar
Frank Palmeri – Vocals

So let me just say that if any Emmure fans have found their way onto my little site, you may want to navigate away from the rest of this review. I’m about to be an asshole.

Album:

“The Respect Issue”

Well, how do I start this off? Let me start with the good stuff and then I’ll rant some. So as far as recording quality goes, it’s good. If you have a nice audio setup this will certainly sparkle. Jesse and Ben have pretty good guitar tone for being “chugga-chugga-ers”. Also, if you’re into the whole breakdown section thing, you’ll like this album. Pretty much every song has some sort of Crowbar influenced breakdown.

Now for the blahs. The first thing that REALLY barks my cat up a tree is the sheer lack of originality throughout this entire album. By entire I mean less than 30 minutes total play time. From a musicianship point of view, it’s boring. Heard it. Seen it. Played it. Between the chugging guitars, unimpressive drumming, and all-too-common vocals, I was ready to stop listening after about 10 minutes. There are some slight glimpses at melody and actual songwriting in “Dry Ice”, “Chicago’s Finest” and maybe “Rough Justice”. The rest is just a breakdown party.

If this band is so clever to come up with song titles like “I Only Mean Half of What I Don’t Say” and “You’re More Like Friend Without the ‘R”, then why are the lyrics themselves so craptastically childish? How about this little clip from “False Love in Real Life”:

Let Me Take My Time

Let Me Work Things Out

I Could Be The Man You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Just Get On Your Knees

And Open Your Mouth

And Accept This Gift Of Lust And Let Downs

What Did You Expect?

You Think I Really Care?

You’re Just Another Notch On This Belt I Wear

So I’m Taking Off

Yeah I’m Leaving Town

Don’t Call Or Write

See You Around

Yeah, so you see what I’m saying now. Here is a bit more from “Tales From the Burg”:

It must have been his brand new hand pentagram
Or the fact that he [censored]
Iron City girls, no condom, on the rag
Just so you know
The next time your sucking his [censored]
You’re tasting the blood of a Pirates fan
Tell me how much lower can you go in life?

How much lower? Well, you tell us, Frank.

This album is pretty bad, really. I’m sure I’ll catch plenty of flak from Emmure fans but come on guys, even YOU listen to better stuff than this.

Tracks:

1. “Young, Rich, and Out of Control
2. “Sound Wave Superior”
3. “I Only Mean Half of What I Don’t Say”
4. “False Love in Real Life”
5. “Chicago’s Finest”
6. “Tales From the Burg”
7. “Rough Justice”
8. “Snuff 2 – The Resurrection”
9. “Dry Ice”
10. “You’re More Like Friend Without the ‘R’”

I can’t even give a better recommendation based on listening to this album. Maybe August Burns Red.

Final Score:

Instead of a numerical score I’ll give this album some other items.

1 melody.

1 yawn.

2 bruises from an Emmure pit.

1500 Crowbar fans asking for their breakdowns back.