I'm Only A Man by Emery

Reviewed by Susanne Martin

In November and December last year Emery rented a beach house in Charleston, South Carolina, set up a recording studio and began working on songs that were to eventually feature on this album. Then in Franklin, Tennessee in mid April with producer Ryan Bush, the band recorded what to my ears is the band's most intense, heavy album so far. The first comment I made after pressing the play button was, "Well if you were feeling a bit tired this would certainly sit you up!" Amusingly, the first line from the album is "This is a waking up." I guess they got that message across rather well. Emery definitely don't like you to forget their hardcore and screamo roots as each track reminds. However, the band have grown up and developed their musical talent with melodious rhythms and haunting lyrics. If you loved the acoustic side of Emery, as witnessed on their recent US tour and the Special Edition of 'The Question', then the calmer "What Makes A Man A Man" will be your favourite. "Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus" is also an interesting experimental mix of dance beats and rock, but works surprisingly well. Mostly, there is tunefulness about their music but it still goes alongside with the head-banging convergence of screams and electric guitars of the emo kind. Overall there is a maturity heard from Emery in this album and they don't fail to rock it up in harmony.