Hailing from the West Midlands, metalcore newbies An Elegy look to make their mark on the UK music scene with their debut EP Embrace The Rain. Drawing from a range of disparate influences including metal, acoustic, grime (why) and techno (tech-nope), the band have taken these genres and put them into a melting pot, resulting in this six-track EP.
Lead single ‘Ghost’ kicks off proceedings with a doom metal-esque dissonant riff, with the band’s affinity for techno being heard from the start with the incorporation of glitchy electronics. The vocals are surprisingly low and gruff, considering the fresh-faced demeanour of vocalist Sam Appleyard, but we are soon treated to his more dulcet tones, once the predictably melodic and cleanly sung chorus comes around.
Predictability is the crux of the problem with this EP. Most of the time it is hard to tell when one song ends and another begins. This isn’t helped by the inclusion of unnecessary interlude ‘Chailleann tu me’ halfway in, though in all fairness, it does add some desperately needed variety. Much of the record is heavy for the sake of being heavy, with more emphasis being placed on how low they can tune their guitars, rather than on any actual songwriting.
If brutal beatdowns are your thing, then you will love this, as Embrace The Rain is completely saturated with them, to the point it’s almost comical. “Yo dawg, we heard you like beatdowns so we put a beatdown in your beatdown so you can beat while you down.” That’s not to say there’s anything inherently wrong with beatdowns – bands such as Upon A Burning Body favour them – however when the same triplet rhythm is overused on every track, it becomes tiresome.
There is unfortunately nothing unique or inspiring about this EP – even the poppier-sounding choruses aren’t memorable enough. It’s generic and really quite boring. Rebelliously titled fourth track “VII” adds a touch of flavour as the tempo kicks up a gear and dips its toes into hardcore territory, but then it’s back to the same tired format.
An Elegy clearly have ambition, but they will need to come up with songs better than this if they are to succeed in the already oversaturated metalcore market.
