Emmure - Felony [2009]

Genre: Beatdown/Hardcore/Metalcore
Label: Victory Records
URL: http://www.myspace.com/emmure
Country: New York, USA

Emmure's third full-length has been released to many's hopes, and disbelief. Nowadays I hear more negative things being said about Emmure than positive things. In one way I understand them. Going from emotional lyrics about false love and relationships to the "fuck bitches, get money"-concept. I, for one matter, am not a fan of this kind of change which began even in their previous album The Respect Issue.
I also hear complaints about Emmure being a "chugchugchug"-band. In what way should someone be annoyed by this fact? Don't like it? Don't listen to it. And keep those comments to yourself.

To get back to the album itself. For an opening track there is Sunday Bacon, which sounds like a ripoff of Bury Your Dead. I was hoping the rest of the songs hadn't gone the same way downhill as Bury Your Dead have, and I was especially not expecting to see a BYD-ripoff-album either. I was then pleased in that way; I found nothing else on this album to compare Emmure with BYD.
To be honest, a lot of songs on this album are nothing special. Many of them sound pretty much the same, with the same riffs and typical breakdowns. But the good songs on this album, First Impressions and Don't Be One for instance, sound absolutely amazing. First Impressions catches you completely off guard with the new implemented "tech metal"-sweeping intro. You even get to hear regular guitar riffs, not only the chugging! This is a big difference in what Emmure usually do. But don't worry, the rest of the songs sound like typical Emmure...
... except for one song. Don't Be One. Two words: clean vocals. Melodic riffs. What's this? Am I really listening to Emmure? The wannabe-gangsta metalcore band? Can't be... It's one hell of a change though. And I like it.


Best track: First Impressions
Score: 6/10