To say that the last couple of years were rough on Emmure frontman Frankie Palmeri would be an understatement. After suffering from strained vocal cords in early 2015, and a complete band defection in October of the same year, Palmeri has regrouped with a new band. On their seventh full-length, Palmeri and Emmure offer up a status quo album. Complete with deathcore guitar, vocals, and their trademark breakdowns featuring guttural vocals and accompanying rap breakdowns, Look at Yourself is the band’s first offering from the new lineup. Featuring former members of The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza and Glass Cloud, the lineup consists of Josh Travis handling all the guitar duties, Phil Lockett on bass, Josh Miller on drums, and Palmeri on vocals.
Sometimes when a band completely changes its lineup it can have an adverse effect on the group, but the outcome of Look at Yourself is right where Palmeri wants it. Loud, fast, brutal and effective. Continuing the vibe of 2014’s Eternal Enemies, 2017’s Look at Yourself is full of the same style lyrical content and musical stylings most diehard Emmure fans are used to. “Shinjuku Masterlord” features both the guttural tones of Palmeri with the familiar rap rock breakdowns ala Fred Durst, as he is a self-admitted big influence on Palmeri. “Natural Born Killer” is an expressive Deathcore standard with dissonant chords, snarling guitars and Palmeri’s trademark growls. “Flag of The Beast” features more of the same, as well as “Smokey,” and the oddly penned “Call Me Ninib.” “Torch” is the first release of the album, and a video to accompany the track has been released as well. The standout songs on the album are “Russian Hotel Aftermath” referring to the former members’ mass exodus after an ill-fated show in Saint Petersburg Russia, and the last track on the album, “Gucci Prison” features more of the melodic riffs and rap/screamo vocals familiar to fans of the genre.
Emmure are embarking on a US tour to support Look at Yourself, covering most of the Midwest, southwest and east coast states, before a return to the west coast. If you have the opportunity to see the 2017 version of Emmure, I would take it. Frankie sounds re-energized on the new album and it would be worth your while as a fan to see it live. Look at Yourself, may be an introspective title looking into the last session of Emmure, and a look forward to 2017 and beyond.
