Review: Emmure - Eternal Enemies
[Victory; 2014]
Rating: 2/10
By Eric Perzanowski, Contributor
Key Tracks: “Nemesis”
Since its creation, Emmure has always been one of the most criticized bands in the realm of deathcore, a subgenre of metal that is already a frequent target of ridicule.
Between the near-binary riffing, extensive use of breakdowns, nü-metal elements and the controversial antics of frontman Frankie Palmeri, the band is a lightning rod of criticism and controversy. Emmure’s new album Eternal Enemies won’t win over any of the haters, but that was never the intention of this album.
The album opens with the track “(Untitled).” Emmure came under heavy controversy for this song after news leaked that it was originally going to be titled “Bring A Gun To School.” It’s easy to see why people would take offense to the proposed name, but the content of the song is even more disturbing than the title.
The track began with some promise of it being a decent way to open the album. The song builds in intensity with the sound of a guitar over samples of 9-1-1 calls. Even when the band comes in and Frankie Palmeri shouts, “Put it through your fucking head,” there is some promise. But after the first part of the breakdown occurs, the song falls flat, due to both sophomoric lyrics and underwhelming instrumentation.
The second track “Nemesis” has its enjoyable and distinguishing qualities, even if the main riff seems similar to “Solar Flare Homicide,” a song off of the band’s album Speaker of the Dead.
On recent albums, Emmure has incorporated more and more of a nü-metal influence (if they were to throw in hair metal, we’d have the unholy trifecta of the most hated metal subgenres). This influence becomes even more apparent with the appearance of a DJ on the track “E.” Even more so, the callouts of “get up!” and “bounce!” stereotypical nü-metal buzzwords, are said throughout the song.
Palmeri incorporates more lines that are either spoken or rapped than he has on past albums, which is unfortunate because while Palmeri’s harsh vocals have never been amazing, they are much better than most will give him credit for.
There also seems to be a thematic change with Eternal Enemies. Many of the lyrics seem as though they are interchangeable with lyrics from a Rick Ross album. An example from the song “The Hang Up” shows this: “I’m the realest motherfucker in the game / So check yourself before you say my name.”
Between the firing back at the haters, boasting and songs about school shootings, it’s tough to get behind the content. In the past, the band made songs about things like Street Fighter or Transformers.
Despite all of the sophomoric antics and songs that lack substance, the band must receive some respect. Despite the endless hate the band receives, it continues to make music, seemingly without any desire to appeal to or win over any haters.
In fact, songs like “Free Publicity” and “Most Hated” make it seem as though the band exists only to further enrage these people, and is satisfied with basking in the glory of being the bad boys of deathcore.
In the past, Emmure may have been decent in a fun, guilty pleasure way, with songs that were filled with breakdowns and were overloaded with goofy pop culture references. But between songs about school shootings and boasting about being the “realest motherfucker in the game,” the attraction wears off. Eternal Enemies had this reviewer longing for the good old days of Emmure.
