Emigra
Tony from Irish/Polish band Emigra recently dropped us a line, letting us know about their album, Deadlights, and to see what we thought. Based in Co. Cork in Ireland, Tony (vocals) is actually the only Irish member of the band, as the others (Tomek, Szymon, Paul and Daniel) are all Polish. Having been together for a year, the band have already played at an open air metal festival over in Poland, accompanying bands such as Megadeth, Soulfly and Fear Factory, showing just how quickly these guys are getting some serious critical acclaim. Due to be touring over the summer, I was looking forward to seeing what was on offer from this multinational conglomeration of a band!
Opening with Are You Mad Bro?, the theme immediately begins to form around the idea of dark and industrial sounds, all forming around you as the track gets going and luring you in to listen harder. Soon though, all comparisons go out the window as the track breaks and it becomes impossible to compare this to anything other than itself – it’s one hell of a sound. Hard hitting, distorted, energetic, this track soon adopts a pace and rhythm which is going to get people circling, moving and generally loving what they’re hearing. Roving guitar lines combine with hard hitting drumming, roaring vocals, pounding bass and enough aggression to leave a hardcore band wetting themselves in apprehension. This might only be the first track on the EP, but personally, I already know I’m going to love the rest of it!
Crossbreaker continues the idea of hard hitting track fuelled by distorted elements, this time launching into a melee of pounding bass rhythms, hammering drums, roving guitar lines and more of those awesome vocals. It’s striking just how massive a sound these guys have achieved in their short time together, they’ve achieved the guitar power of the likes of Hatebreed and combined it with the all out distortion of the likes of Soulfly, somehow keeping a sense of melody running through things at the same time. Ocean marks a slight change in the album, this time opening with a sludgy guitar line over a slower drum line. The slower approach of this track continues to accentuate the raw aggression and distortion of the band, once again demonstrating that if you’re looking for a band that’s going to kill on the live scene, this could well be them. This track stands out to me as a serious highpoint on the album, a moment which demonstrates why they’ve already achieved the slots they have on the live scene, as quite simply, it’s phenomenal.
Title track Deadlights comes up next and once again continues to raise the bar, once again launching us into an all out melee of roaring vocals, rolling drumming and hammering guitar lines. Another serious highpoint on the album, this track seems to take the elements of the band, combine them to perfection, amplify them up to 12 (11 doesn’t do it justice) and leave you quivering in the corner unable to hack the onslaught of Emigra. Personally, it’s this sound which I love, and this track is amongst my favourites on the album. We Want Them On Our Side continues this approach, once again throwing down into a track which could be straight out of the metal head handbook, sounding increasingly groove orientated and distorted with each track across the album. This is another moment which is going to slay on the live scene, it’s got that approach which is going to leave fans no choice but to get into the pit, throw down and unleash hell.
Closing with Smash The Order there’s one last moment of destruction on the album to behold, throwing out more chunky riffs, more intricate lead lines, more guttural roars, more pounding drum lines and more heavy bass moments. On a normal EP this would be considered closing on a high, but to be honest the EP has been so top notch from start to finish that it would be unfair to say this is any higher a moment than any of the other tracks – what this is is a closing to an album which leaves you wanting more, leaves you wanting to see the band, and leaves you unsure as to how anything else is ever going to compare to this ever again.
What can I say about Emigra in summary? I’m sort of lost for words here as quite frankly, I’ve not come across such an accomplished EP in a hell of a long time. If these guys come to England to tour, then they’re a band you have to see to believe, as if they can do this live, then my god, I’m not sure the world would be able to handle it. Emigra haven’t just produced a good EP here, they’ve produced an incredible EP, and one which raises 2 points for me –
1). I want a hard copy so I can show it to people in years to come saying ‘see, I told you I’ve got their first EP).
2). I have to see this band live.
To find out more about Emigra, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the EP for yourself HERE. Make sure you check out the video for Deadlights below!
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Are You Mad Bro?, the theme immediately begins to form around the idea of dark and industrial sounds, all forming around you as the track gets going and luring you in to listen harder. Soon though, all comparisons go out the window as the track breaks and it becomes impossible to compare this to anything other than itself – it’s one hell of a sound. Hard hitting, distorted, energetic, this track soon adopts a pace and rhythm which is going to get people circling, moving and generally loving what they’re hearing. Roving guitar lines combine with hard hitting drumming, roaring vocals, pounding bass and enough aggression to leave a hardcore band wetting themselves in apprehension. This might only be the first track on the EP, but personally, I already know I’m going to love the rest of it!
Crossbreaker continues the idea of hard hitting track fuelled by distorted elements, this time launching into a melee of pounding bass rhythms, hammering drums, roving guitar lines and more of those awesome vocals. It’s striking just how massive a sound these guys have achieved in their short time together, they’ve achieved the guitar power of the likes of Hatebreed and combined it with the all out distortion of the likes of Soulfly, somehow keeping a sense of melody running through things at the same time. Ocean marks a slight change in the album, this time opening with a sludgy guitar line over a slower drum line. The slower approach of this track continues to accentuate the raw aggression and distortion of the band, once again demonstrating that if you’re looking for a band that’s going to kill on the live scene, this could well be them. This track stands out to me as a serious highpoint on the album, a moment which demonstrates why they’ve already achieved the slots they have on the live scene, as quite simply, it’s phenomenal.
Title track Deadlights comes up next and once again continues to raise the bar, once again launching us into an all out melee of roaring vocals, rolling drumming and hammering guitar lines. Another serious highpoint on the album, this track seems to take the elements of the band, combine them to perfection, amplify them up to 12 (11 doesn’t do it justice) and leave you quivering in the corner unable to hack the onslaught of Emigra. Personally, it’s this sound which I love, and this track is amongst my favourites on the album. We Want Them On Our Side continues this approach, once again throwing down into a track which could be straight out of the metal head handbook, sounding increasingly groove orientated and distorted with each track across the album. This is another moment which is going to slay on the live scene, it’s got that approach which is going to leave fans no choice but to get into the pit, throw down and unleash hell.
Closing with Smash The Order there’s one last moment of destruction on the album to behold, throwing out more chunky riffs, more intricate lead lines, more guttural roars, more pounding drum lines and more heavy bass moments. On a normal EP this would be considered closing on a high, but to be honest the EP has been so top notch from start to finish that it would be unfair to say this is any higher a moment than any of the other tracks – what this is is a closing to an album which leaves you wanting more, leaves you wanting to see the band, and leaves you unsure as to how anything else is ever going to compare to this ever again.
What can I say about Emigra in summary? I’m sort of lost for words here as quite frankly, I’ve not come across such an accomplished EP in a hell of a long time. If these guys come to England to tour, then they’re a band you have to see to believe, as if they can do this live, then my god, I’m not sure the world would be able to handle it. Emigra haven’t just produced a good EP here, they’ve produced an incredible EP, and one which raises 2 points for me –
1). I want a hard copy so I can show it to people in years to come saying ‘see, I told you I’ve got their first EP).
2). I have to see this band live.
To find out more about Emigra, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the EP for yourself HERE. Make sure you check out the video for Deadlights below!
Words: Dave Nicholls