Emery – …in Shallow Seas We Sail

Emery
… In Shallow Seas We Sail
As the follow-up to last year’s 8-song EP, While Broken Hearts Prevail, the latest from Emery can best be summed up as a morality tale, with far-from-subtle warnings about lust, jealousy, immature relationships and the risk of making an idol of one’s “love.” “I fell apart when I fell for you,” states the title song, and as one tends to expect in this cliche-ridden fairy tale of needing love more than living in loving ways, it turns out badly. So badly that the closing emphasis, “Dear Death,” comes in two parts. One is evidently not enough. Lacking depth and a sympathetic narrative, it’s hard to hear five angry young men denouncing failed love in music that longs for the climactic rage that this kind of “post-hardcore” seems designed to unleash, and not hear this as misogynistic, or at the very least anti-romantic. After 22 years of marriage it would be silly to say I can relate to the emotional nastiness that Seas We Sail aims for, but I have to admit they warn you up front that their approach will remain “shallow.” Musically, they fare better than they do lyrically. Going back and forth between full-throated metal roaring rage and a more melodic sing-songy approach of the average emo band … which may be the point; to reveal the inane cliches in emo’s deification of love. Unfortunately, they fail to acknowledge the inane cliches of modern post-hardcore metal. They, and the music, would benefit from greater complexity, and an appreciation for the subtleties that any honest appraisal of a fully engaged loving human relationship always requires. [Tooth & Nail] Brian Quincy Newcomb

DVP rating: 4.0
Writer rating: 2.5

Tags: Emery

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8 Comments

Jacob had this to say on August 20, 2009 | Permalink

I completely disagree with this review. I love this c.d. and everything about it. Maybe it’s hard for metal lovers to appreciate the simplicity about it but any cliche they may use is used in a unique way and Emery has always been a band to deliver darker messages exposing the faults of human nature and not avoiding any subject because of it being “inane” or “cliche”.
Andrew had this to say on September 8, 2009 | Permalink

This album is not saying that love is anything less than amazing, but dealing specifically with, I think, the kind of teenage immoral love/sex cocktail so common on the party scene these days. This kind of relationship is destructive and Emery are just telling it like it is. I suppose the songs could be kind of seen as negative, but they are by far less negative than the issue they are addressing. As for “They, and the music, would benefit from greater complexity…” I’m not normally the hugest fan of metal, but these guys do it so musically, it is amazing. They have amazing vocal lines and complex harmonies, and have huge contrast within songs, which is a lot more complex than most metal. Emery rocks!
Dan had this to say on October 16, 2009 | Permalink

I sure like the new Emery more than you, Doug.
Jonathan had this to say on October 28, 2009 | Permalink

I also have to completely disagree with this review, as I think it could the best record of the year, competing with none other than Red’s “Innocence & Instinct”. The album opens with my two least favorite tracks and builds up to the best track, the title track “shallow seas” which is a personally favorite. This album made me go back and purchase every previous Emery album and have a new respect for them.
Billy had this to say on October 31, 2009 | Permalink

Emery is so awesome and i liked this album…. to me they did a great job on the album… =)
Jacky had this to say on January 19, 2010 | Permalink

I completely disagree with this review. I think that this album is a great follow up to their EP. I love how not every single song sounds the same and each song has its own uniqueness that is still Emery and it’s good. The singing and the screaming are both amazing, and they never cease to amaze me.
Nate had this to say on July 2, 2010 | Permalink

Doug. Obviously you have no idea what you’re talking about. If you call their screaming full-throated metal roaring, you don’t know metal. And Emery isn’t metal at all. They aren’t even fully hardcore (which, by the way, isn’t to be confused with metal), but are rather post-hardcore, involving higher screams and more melodic rifts, the exact stuff you ripped into them for.
Secondly, Dear Death isn’t specifically split into two parts. It’s more of an intro in part one and the actual song with a reprise of the intro in part two, which is a rather uncommon-and most agree enjoyable-approach.
Thirdly, cliche? Their use of cliches is well done, as they are breaking them in almost every song. The only exception may be “A Sin to Hold on To.” Other than that, it’s well done.
While I’ll admit, I don’t think this is their best work, they’re still a fantastic band and you, sir, do not give them near the credit they deserve. Good day.
Connard had this to say on July 2, 2010 | Permalink

I have to agree with everyone. My family will and always will love Emery, they have such a unique sound and should not be compared to metal in the slightest bit. They touch on the subject that should be touched on. Not everyone has been married 22 years and may be young looking for relationships. There music can simply be a warning to those to protect themselves. Life is messy! Let them sing about it. I find the mixture of screaming with wonderful vocals of all the singers. Its such a great mix. And I LOVE the acoustic tracks. Nate is right, you need to give a deserving band their rightful credit!

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