Review Summary: Progression through maturity.
Erra are a five piece progressive metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama. The band blend bright, atmospheric melodies with heavy, syncopated rhythms. While the band has always been relatively generic in theory, Erra have managed to be one of the most memorable bands in the new wave of metalcore.
I first heard Erra back in 2011 after the release of their debut full length album, Pulse. I immediately fell in love with the album - it was everything I loved in music: Dramatic, technical, emotive, and beautiful. Drift includes all of the attributes that initially made me an Erra fan, but their execution has matured significantly.
One of the first things listeners will notice is how cohesive each song feels. On previous releases, songs felt a little bit like different ideas stitched together. The atmospheric and emotive moments are more delicately woven in with the rest of the songs. The same can be said for each instrument’s role - gone are the over the top vocals, all members are playing within their means. Drift’s songs are coherent and sound like one piece of musical thought.
Perhaps the best part of Drift is it makes you forget Erra is a metal band. Almost all of the songs have a naive sweetness to them, an innocence and honesty that shows that makes the numerous emotional moments on this album very relatable. Songs like Skyline, Orchid, and Safehaven are incredibly bright, pretty, and catchy. However, when band delves into heavier territory, things get crushing. The juxtaposition between glistening leads and discordant breakdowns really makes both elements pop.
Drift has a lot going for it, but is not without some minor blemishes. A few of the songs add nothing to the album, such as the repetitive title track and generic Hourglass. If the band would have cut the filler from the album it could have been a perfect EP rather than a great LP. The ultra-clean production may also not be everyone’s cup of tea - this is a very tight, clear, and saccharine sounding album.
One of the things that separates Erra apart from other metalcore bands is their genuinity. They’re not angry, they’re not wannabe NASA scientists, they’re not political activists. They’re a group of guys that want to create emotive music that carries you from beautiful peaks to dark valleys without falling into into the cliches most multi-faceted metalcore music does. Erra are a very self aware group, and unlike many progressive metal bands, they’ve grown and matured without becoming a parody of themselves. Drift has become one of my favorite metalcore albums of 2016, and I hope the band continues down the path this release has set them on.
