The world of metalcore music isn’t exactly the first place people think of for a robust debate on justice and society, but there it is—pleased to meet you: "Felony" by the band Emmure. Dropped on the unsuspecting masses in 2009, this album is the sonic equivalent of a ram—aggressive, relentless, and unapologetically loud. Recorded in New Jersey and making waves far beyond the Atlantic, Emmure’s "Felony" is a baby boomer's nightmare and a Millennial's wild ride.
Lead vocalist Frankie Palmeri doesn’t mince words. Much like the conservative agenda unapologetically champions individualism and calls out societal issues, this album unabashedly takes shots at everything from musical pretentiousness to the absurdity, telling truths in a way that doesn't care whose feelings get hurt. The provocative title itself sets the stage—a felony isn’t a misdemeanour. It’s high-level, serious, and speaks volumes about the gravity and intensity the band pours into their music.
But let's skip talking about the snowflakes who may swerve at its name and get to why "Felony" is the auditory assault we didn't know we were missing. The album opens with "Sunday Bacon," a track that riffs with a relentless pace, with vocals that tear through eardrums with visceral precision. It’s quite like a bracing espresso shot for society. Some might call it harsh, but then again, truth isn’t supposed to be sweet.
Emmure’s sound in "Felony" is as subtle as a chainsaw to butter; it’s a brutal concoction of thrashing instrumentals, guttural vocals, and raw energy that’s almost an ideological statement against the manufactured mundane tunes that often clutter the airwaves. Tracks like "I Thought You Met Telly and Turned Me Into Casper" echo the sentiment of being so done with societal expectations. Palmeri belts out lyrics with a fervor that challenges anyone resistant to change to either keep up or step aside.
The production quality on "Felony" is noteworthy, fine-tuned by producer Joey Sturgis who ensured that while the band’s sound remained raw and untamed, it also had surgical precision. It's no mystery why the conservative ear finds harmony in clarity and purpose. The album channels frustrations and emotions that resonate with those who dare to ask, "What's really wrong with the world today?" Imagine a conversation between heavy guitar riffs and unfiltered life truths.
Of course, you have tracks like "R2 Deepthroat," which offer no apologies or explanations—just sheer musical force that pierces preconceptions. Conservative audiences can appreciate this lack of complacency. It casts aside political correctness and bang, you're confronted with both barrels. Just the way certain ideologies refuse to sugarcoat the state of affairs, this track provides a raw, stark mirror reflecting its view of the world.
Their lyrical content, to those listening closely, can be thrillingly honest, unlike the long-winded dances around issues you’d witness in political debates. "Bars in Astoria" comments on the emptiness that inhabits certain social scenes, while "A Lesson from Nichole" doesn't hesitate to charge straight through any attempted ease and into dispersing some hard social truths.
And of course, there's "The Philosophy of Time Travel," a compelling piece that can somehow take the intellectual critiques of time and society and convert them into audio form. It’s clear we need more of this raw, honest intellectualism in our music—a display of authenticity that reminds one of debates grounded in realism rather than floral promises.
This album is brash, bold, and undeniably in-your-face. Yet, it elicits a profound response: it demands you think, or at the very least, question. It’s a musical expression of the kind of liberty the most vehement supporters are often all about and a reflection on society’s darker currents. Words like these echo through "Felony," putting authenticity at its forefront.
So, if you’re looking to stir up your auditory senses with controversy, raw energy, and unabashed statements, "Felony" is the soundtrack for those who refuse to fit neatly into the pre-packaged societal norm. It's an album for those rebels who share a fierce dedication to brutal honesty and individualism above societal illusions. And let’s face it, the louder the music, the louder the dialogue on change.