Review

Emmure - The Respect Issue

28.07.2008 | Cam | 3 Comments

Genre: Hardcore/Metal/Two Step
For Fans Of: On Broken Wings – Recon – Bury Your Dead
Favourite Songs: Chicago’s Finest – Rough Justice – Dry Ice
Running Time: 27:39
Year: 2008
Website Link: http://www.emmure.com
Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/emmure

Score: 40

You’ve got to be fucking kidding…

REVIEW.

It’s not often I come across a record that has absolutely nothing going for it. Even the worst releases that I’ve have been sent my way have least earned points for quality artwork (or something else that’s not actually the musical content), but The Respect Issue is, in the simplest of terms, a steaming pile of shit.

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but a “breakdown” (at least in the world of hardcore and metal) usually follows a tune’s faster passage so that it has some kind of dynamic effect. Emmure clearly didn’t get the memo, because their songs (I use the term loosely) are one mosh part after another, with absolutely nothing separating the endless stream of near identical riffs. It bothers me that so many talented bands fly under the music buying public’s radar, yet a group as devoid of talent as Emmure are in a position to release records.

I’m going to forgo my usual track-by-track analysis of The Respect Issue, as the songs do not contain the diversity to warrant such a lengthy explanation. The un-trained ear could not separate the record’s first three numbers. Whether it’s the slowly crawling tempo set by the drums or the monotonous chugging of (both) the band’s guitarists, not one of these songs is able to distinguish itself from the others. “False Love In Real Life” almost fell into the same category as its predecessors, however it does have a brief section that picks up the pace ever so slightly, until of course Emmure have a crack at the record for the world’s slowest and most painful to listen to breakdown.

“Chicago’s Finest” is far from being the most original piece of music you’re going to hear, but it’s cleanly picked intro and melody friendly riffs are a welcome change from the last ten minutes of boredom that I’ve had to suffer through. I’m normally a fan of chugging, half time metalcore but the beginner’s level guitar work and god damn awful lyrics had me reaching for the stop button on more than one occasion, although “Rough Justice” has some redeeming value courtesy of its European influenced guitar work and screeching breakdown, the only other part of the record I enjoyed was the instrumental “Dry Ice”.

CONCLUSION.

Not many bands do this style of music well and Emmure sure as hell isn’t one of them. Wait another month and get yourself a copy of the new The Acacia Strain record.
Oh yeah, the artwork is appalling!

TRACKLISTING.

Young, Rich, And Out Of Control
Sound Wave Superior
I Only Mean Half Of What I Don’t Say
False Love In Real Life
Chicago’s Finest
Tales From The Burg

COMMENTS.

1. goldenphoenix1

28.07.2008 06:02:27

im now starting to wonder wat the criteria for scores are coz this had to be a low 20's got this when a friend gave me the dead walk don't albums take effort?