With each album, Employed To Serve‘s status as one of the UK’s most vital metal bands continues to grow. It’s a trend that is guaranteed to continue with their latest album – ‘Fallen Star’.
‘Treachery‘ launches the album at full throttle thanks to Casey McHale’s dense drum fills and Sammy Urwin’s distant Wilhelm scream, before settling into a tasty metallic groove. It’s rapid, heavy and absolutely thrilling, setting the bar high for the following 10 tracks. The title track soon follows, highlighting ETS‘s heavy-to-melodic dynamic. Justine Jones’ barbed screams, along with a thick musical backdrop, are countered by Urwin’s soaring melodies and gentle shoegaze-esque keys. Likewise, ‘Atonement’ is a hulking metalcore beast with Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos vocals and a riveting guitar solo from Sammy adding to its sheer impact. It also includes one of the album’s strongest hooks.
Pulling off memorable melodies that bridge ‘Fallen Star’ to 2021’s ‘Conquering’. Tracks such as ‘Familiar Pain’ and ‘The Renegades’ exemplify ETS‘s melodic might without sacrificing their savage intent. On the latter, Urwin and David Porter provide a blazing, duel guitar onslaught as the pairing of McHale and bassist Nathan Pryor creates a solid rhythmic foundation. Furthermore, there are moments such as ‘Whose Side Are You On?’, featuring Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach, which simply add to the relentless energy that thrives through ‘Fallen Star’.
However, there are flashes of experimentation. Whether that be on ‘Breaks Me Down’s opening atmospheric synths and an electronic beat, or the plucky, clean (and ’80s-ish) guitars that welcome ‘Last Laugh’. Nevertheless, it’s another highlight as Svalbard’s Serena Cherry’s crystal voice complements Jones’ guttural vocals. Once again, it’s done with purpose, allowing them to slightly widen their musical palette without forfeiting their metal prowess.
By the time you reach ‘From This Day Forward’, you’re given one final dense blast that sees the quintet throw everything in their cauldron, delivering a message of defiance; “I won’t accept ignorance as bliss, I won’t accept cowardice”. It provides a thrilling conclusion with scaling post-metal guitars and blast beats.
The mix of punishing metalcore, occasional hooks, and hints of experimentation makes ‘Fallen Star’ an ideal entry point for those just discovering Employed To Serve. Thematically, it’s threaded together by finding inner confidence, unity, and fighting back with resistance. It results in a band solidifying their place among modern UK metal’s elite.
‘Fallen Star’ by Employed To Serve is released on April 25th on Spinefarm Records.
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