Review Summary: Not a huge step forward but shows enough to appreciate vast progression and effort.
Relativity was an impressive debut in my opinion but I remember the first listens, as the album advanced I noticed the songs sounded alike, when I listened this album the same thing happened but just in the first two or three listens, then I differenced the songs a lot more.
The thing is that at the first listen I noticed a lot more different Emarosa but couldn't point my finger at something, then I realized that the songs were "verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus" structured which made the songs stand out on their own without being confused with others as on Relativity. For me, that wasn't a problem as long the songs are good and they're great.
The guys nailed it when they said they wanted to incorporate more R&B and more folk to their music to give it more energy, emotion and rawness and the more I listened the album I started noticing that Craig didn't sing much high notes as on their past album but sounded more like on his solo effort, raw and controled, yet not that agressive, which works for the new style. The instrumental part is different and less notable due to their change, but still pretty good.
"Truth Hurts While Laying On Your Back" has that Relativity feel, while "A Toast to the Future Kids!" introduces the listener with the new style serving as the perfect introduction. "Share the Sunshine Young Blood" "Broken Vs. The Way We Were Born" "The Weight of Love Blinds Eyes" and "I Still Feel Her Pt. 4" contain that energetic sound that, in my opinion, is brilliant the latter containing a powerful scream-layered breakdown. And "We Are Life" is an inspirational piece which serves as the closer track nailing the album.
This self-titled album is not perfect, it takes time to grow just not as much as the debut and it's not a huge change unlike This Is Your Way Out to Relativity but it is still a solid add to their career, maybe their best.