Here at Soundscape, metalcore is one of the genres that we get countless submissions of with barely any of the EPs and albums featuring anything of much worth, so admittedly it was with a cynical mind that I approached the new EP from An Elegy but needless to say, I have never been happier to be proven wrong.
Embrace The Rain is different. A truly substantial listen from start to finish, An Elegy have masterfully blended exactly the right amount of melody and aggression into their music, and it results in a well-rounded and engaging listen that really grips you. The vocals are particularly versatile, with frontman Sam able to perform both harsh and clean vocals to a high standard, and the way the instrumentation is so tight and together is truly something to behold – the band are projecting a well-organised wall of noise at you in the best possible sense.
Whilst each track on the EP packs a real punch, a definite highlight of the release has to be the hard-hitting VII, a passionate and energy-filled piece that features a striking vocal approach in certain parts with both clean and harsh vocals delivered at the same time, juxtaposing well against each other and really leaving an impression on you.
Quite honestly, it’s incredible to think that this is only An Elegy’s debut EP because this sounds like a release from a band who have spent years playing together. This is mature, powerful and well-constructed; a true breath of fresh air in the metalcore genre. The amount of potential in Embrace The Rain is incredible and if this is anything to go by, just imagine what their future debut album is going to be like!
9/10
