American progressive metalcore band ERRA have largely escaped the mainstream metalcore attention over the course of their career. Their debut album came back a decade ago, and their new self titled album is their fifth, and first under label UNFD. Bridging the gap between Pendulum style EDM and prototypical progressive/math metal, ERRA put on a clinic on their new album.
I have mentioned that we seem to be hitting a high point for the EDM-core/math metal movement. Bands like Dead By April and Shadow Autonomous are at the height of their popularity. Where djent started out as much a meme as a serious form of music, it has now evolved into a multi proved beast. Bands are letting their creative juices flow, talking anywhere from the crazy rhythms of Meshuggah, the choppy deathcore chugs of Veil Of Maya, to the heavily EDM influence of the new Architects record. Or just the batshit complexity of Animals As Leaders. There really is something to suit everyone – if it doesn’t always come off successfully.
An unfortunate consequence of the plethora of creative influenced on the nu-djent wave, is that the effort to make something unique, can ironically leave many bands sounding indistinct and unmemorable. Either drenched in ambient effects to leave tracks a bewildering mess, or so many time signatures you need a math degree just to finish the song. Maybe I am little biased towards a straight forward pumping 4/4 riff, but a lot of math metal often makes my brain hurt.
That is most certainly not the case here. ERRA have really put out an excellent album. It runs at almost 54 minutes – which is at the very limit of what I can often take on an album without getting bored. However not a concern here. The math metal underpinnings are obviously scattered all throughout the album. Guitarists Jesse Cash and Sean Price fire off hooks sharper than than Peter Pan’s nemesis’ unfortunate arm appendage. There is endless creativity, and the guitar tone is really top notch, heavy but crystal clear.
I am extremely impressed by J.T. Cavey‘s vocals. Savage and full of energy, matching the relentless rhythmic drive of each track. Very much reminds me of Ivan Moody, just without all the needless macho energy and cringe AF lyrics. Sometimes the clean/dirty vocal combo can show off a weak vocalist. The clean vocals are good and relatively par for the course, they just get overshadowed by the barnstorming dirty vocals.
It’s almost impossible to say a math metal album stands out as unique, and I won’t say so here. But for me, it’s all in the execution. ERRA have executed their plan as well as I have heard on a progressive metalcore album in a while. If there was ever an album to shoot ERRA into the consciousness of the metalcore masses, they couldn’t have done much better. The production is top drawer, the layered riffs are titanic, and some classic devastating breakdowns for good measure.
Score: 8.5/10
If you enjoyed this post then please share with your fellow metal and non-metalheads. Also please follow The Metal Protocol on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you!
