Memphis May Fire: Unconditional

Artist: Memphis May Fire
Title: Unconditional
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 25th March 2014
Reviewed By: Ben Chapman

The fourth studio album from Memphis May Fire is one full of promise tainted with dubious delivery. In No Ordinary Love the first impression given is how well produced the album is. Though at times arguably overproduced, the technical skill of the musicians is clearly heard but overwrought: the power is lost somewhat. That said, the vocals are strong throughout and know their way around a tune, despite their tendency to interrupt too often what is always an impressive instrumental effort from the entire band.

Beneath the Skin is another precisely constructed, heavily played yet cleanly produced, four minute blunt chunk of metalcore, in which a speedy chordal strum's distortion masks its bouncy riff: though unfortunately the rest of the track's busyness detracts from its raw potential. There are plenty of variations in hard rhythms here, some tuneful vocal-orientated passages that work well alongside the more traditional metal shouting, and thankfully the synth is kept fairly subtle throughout, though the song would be more memorable if it didn't throw so much at the listener in one go. The potential for an overwhelming jarring heaviness is gone, sadly, just done too neatly at points. It’s all pulled off well, excellently played, but there's some charm missing in the intense approach that confuses the ears.

In Sleepless Nights, about two minutes into the song a stabbing build up helps create the illusion of variation, but it feels a little like we're still listening to the last track. This far into the album you may begin to beg the question of whether all Unconditional’s songs will sound like the previous ones, and The Answer screams, shreds, and warbles, ‘yes’. Though the song is probably one of the album's highlights, the blend of metal with the pop-influenced vocal crooning combines really well here, it's not doing anything that we haven't just heard. It’s rare that an album can be so full of ideas, each generally difficult to flaw, that it’s hard for any one particular part to stand out favourably.

In Possibilities the band manage to relish in their straightforwardly powerful heaviness (which they ought to do more often throughout Unconditional) they layer guitar lines precariously and pattern the bass and drums, displaying a ferocious command of metal where even the modulated tomfoolery from the synth manages to become a useful rhythmic tool. Sadly it's ruined later on. They throw away the head-banging build-up with some distantly mixed strings that unnecessarily try too hard to add any real importance to the perfectly sung vocals.

Speechless is apparently the most synth heavy song. Deep basslines murmur up waves at unfathomable octaves, cast over with high melodies and stirring string parts. Here the orchestral ambitions and scope of Memphis May Fire are realised on an oceanic scale. It's not particularly catchy, though fans will enjoy the prevalent sense of anthemic emotion. As the album's only proper definite break and musical departure from the rest of the tracks it's not a terrible effort.

Not Enough turns out to be just the right amount. There's still the intense strumming of metal, the aggression and straightforward structure of a classic punk track, and sections where the bass carries the track's momentum with excellent tone and the occasional cheeky fill. This track is less busy than the others but certainly not less loud, and is all the better for it.

Pharisees has to be praised for its catchy vocal line that makes use of interesting eastern scales flowing over a driving wall of distortion and drum fills. An unpredictable melodic flurry towards the track’s end is probably the best few seconds of the album. It’s only a shame that the ambitious aims and blend of styles adopted in the recording of this album are fully realised, quite late, in this one impression-smashing track.
Though much of Unconditional’s regularity between most of its songs and the incremental struggle listening to them consecutively can feel a bit like climbing a steep staircase, there are moments to be enjoyed, plenty of details for devoted fans to find enjoyment in, and riffs that prove Memphis May Fire are still a strong force.