Barely a year ago Memphis May Fire undertook the daunting task of finding a new singer and regaining that Southern rock soul that had driven their ...(read more)
For those who were distraught when Chasing Victory called it quits earlier this year, no need to worry because I have discovered that the band in fact had a long lost monozygotic twin, Memphis May Fire. With the release of Memphis May Fire’s debut self titled EP, the band is clearly trying to capture audiences with their infectious southern rock, metal blended formula.
Memphis May Fire use their formulaic breakdowns, growls, clean vocals, and squeals in opening track, “Cowbell’s Makin A Comeback”, leaving the listener with a slight feeling that the band has been listening to a lot of Every Time I Die and Underoath. “Cowbell’s Makin A Comeback” is just a taste of what the rest of the tracks are. The four following tracks (“Neutron Cameras Vs. Smuggled Nuclear Bombs”, “Therapy Caravan Of The Fair Room”, “History Of Mercia”, “Conjunctions, Conjunctions, Everybody Loves Them”) swim their way through numerous genres boundaries so much to the point where you couldn’t label Memphis May Fire under any particular genre—southern rock, metal, hardcore, pop—frivolously breaking down the walls of any specific genre.
While this style of rock is not anything new or original, Memphis May Fire pulls it off decently; in fact the problem with the EP it is just plain addicting at times. Memphis May Fire have really done nothing more than add catchy hooks, growls, clean vocals, and squeals in the right places. Regardless of that lack of “creativity” Memphis May Fire will definitely please the crowds where ever they are and while I look at this EP as a critic, when it’s playing, it’s very hard to not be content with what the band has created.
Recommended If You Like: Every Time I Die, Underoath, Chasing Victory, A Day To Remember
Memphis May Fire manages to draw a perfect line between accessibility and viciousness. On one hand the band is extremely melodic yet things can turn downright savage in seconds. Rock n roll riffs, dissonance and melody collide is a sound that is filled with hooks yet is quite unique and interesting.
Chiodos meets Taking Back Sunday but filtered though rock n roll would somewhat sum up Memphis May Fire. Comparisons aside, this is a unique band that plays with a lot of steam. Even when the songs have very different parts, the writing flows incredibly well and the band makes it work perfectly. Harsh moments precede melodic moments and it just works. Each element, no matter how diverse, is an integral part of the bands sound.
The vocals are strong regardless of the feel. The clean vocals have swagger and a lot of feel while the screaming is downright vicious. The vocal performance manages to match the diverse approach of the music which is no small feat. With some similar bands the vocals can be hit or miss, but this is one of the most solid vocal performances I have heard in this genre in a very long time.
Memphis May Fire is definitely a band with a bright future. These 5 songs have me chomping at the bit to see what the band is capable of with a full length release. Fans of everything from Chiodos to Finch to Every Time I Die should enjoy Memphis May Fire.
Emo Inflected Rock ‘N’ Roll Good Times For All.
Kicking off with the kind of swaggering, barroom of boogie riff that Every Time I Die utilize so well, Cowbell’s Makin’ A Comeback heads straight for the adrenal gland before unleashing an unexpectedly melodic chorus that’ll make fans of The Used weak at the knees. What follows pretty much ploughs the same furrow, but what prevents them from being written off as bandwagon jumpers is the fact that they really do know how to wield a killer riff and supercharge their melodies, making them impossible to ignore. With the right kind of exposure, we’ll be hearing a lot more from these boys.
Memphis May Fire definitely aren’t Iron Chefs, but they possess the ultimate melting pot in the metal world. The Dallas quartet incorporates the more aggressive elements of post-hardcore, punk and Southern rock in their tasteful recipe as they preheat the oven with this self-titled EP. Though it may seem like the perfect formula for a headache, it’s quite the opposite. They smoothly change gears, especially vocalist Chase Robbins, who transitions comfortably from desperate screams to emotional harmonies, as brilliantly captured on “Neutron Cameras vs. Smuggled Nuclear Bombs.” While the trend is “buttery” throughout the five-track collection, Memphis May Fire’s at their best when coming to amorous realizations on “Cowbell’s Makin’ A Comeback.” However, the Texas-bred rockers would far better without the morbid stoicism of “Therapy Caravan Of The Fair Room.” The group doesn’t need the sinister poetry, as it only hurts their fresh vibe. Hopefully, they’ll ditch that spice.
The sound of the last years of screamo and metalcore thrown into a blender, the influences and comparisons may come thick and fast, but that probably won't cause too much of an obstacle for Memphis May Fire, as they sound like they have enough energy to leap over anything that gets in their way.
A snappy, well produced EP, 'Cowbell's Makin' A Comeback' fires out with punchy riffs and a heavier, more expansive chorus, and 'Therapy Caravan Of The Fair Room' has some bizarre lyrics that tell a story rather than rhyme a song – in doing so becoming the finest song on the record, best showcasing the rapid-changing vocal styles across this EP.
So, take one part Underoath, one part Every Time I Die, flavour with early Finch hooks and a sprinkling of Bert McCracken's vocal histrionics and you have a combination whose ingredients may not be that original, but make a smoothie with a taste of its own.
What happens in Texas apparently doesn't stay in Texas. At least that is a good thing when involving the band Memphis May Fire. These five guys from TX are no strangers to mixing their old school southern rock with modern hardcore to create this hybrid that has caught the eyes of Trustkill Records, who recently signed them. This self-titled EP is a giant first step for any band that has had some hype attached to them and I'm here to see if they can live up to it.
All that I have to say is that you must prepare you ears for a symphony of rushed jagged hardcore and vocals, as well as a softer side of this two-faced music which also sings in high pitch and echoing shrilly riffs. Must like a calm Underoath, Memphis May Fire fires off with dual vocals for the growling crowd as well as the gentler songbird moments for the indie scene. We take trips between rumbling hostility and its polar opposite, making for a never dull listen every time.
You can hear the southernness creep out of their vocals and guitars which made me chuckle a bit, but over all a fair balance of both rough and mellow take space in this EP. Let us not forget about the melodic and bludgeoning set of guitars that pounded so loud that sometimes my speakers fuzzed up trying to play the low chugs. Add in humorous track titles and storydriven lyrics and you have a highly enjoyable five songs.
Score another one for bands with a dual vocal styling because you are quickly taking over everyone's ears. Memphis May Fire might have a few southern aspects that make a little bit of their music sound a bit off, but the pluses that this powerful and detailed EP has almost makes me want to make all of the cons disappear. Energy and melody with fury and balance.
