Review Summary: Fall of human kind
Last we saw Emma was on 2021's devastatingly personal and introspective
Engine of Hell, where she cast away all but a guitar and piano to reflect on her own trauma, addiction and grief. On her latest work, Emma casts her eyes and ires outwards, eulogizing the state of the world, our collective impending death knell, and those architecting it.
Musically,
These Killing Times is yet another release taking cues from 90s alt rock and grunge, but these cues are funneled into a dynamic and textured soundscape that feels organic to the extent the genre tag '#grungegaze' feels like an accurate descriptor. No track better showcases this than lead single and opener 'Powerless', a grunge inspired rocker that erupts with a massive, cathartic chorus.
Elsewhere on 'God's Picture', gentle soothing sax lines and keys complement Emma's tender whispered delivery in a way that feels both incredibly intimate, and also portrays a sense of simmering rage.
Returning with a full band, Emma deploys a tight team of collaborators for
These Killing Times, mainly Jess Gowrie (ex-Chelsea Wolfe) on drums and Troy Ziegler (
Marked For Death) on bass. In addition, Emma is joined by a shortlist of conspirators including Baroness's Gina Gleason, Deafheaven's George Clarke, Thou's Bryan Funck, and Marissa Nadler. However these additional voices are all understated, never taking centre stage, and serve ultimately to create a community around Emma in her quest to confront this catastrophe. If there is any hope to be found in
These Killing Times, it is in each other and those we stand alongside.
Emma's sense of melody and these often gorgeous and lush arrangements mask how incredibly dark and apocalyptic many of these songs are. 'God's Picture' imagines God having a picture of the world burning in such vivid detail it must be inevitable. 'Enough' questions what is the extent of our psychotic overlords' greed and desire if the whole world is not enough for them. 'Catherine Wheel' is a pointed and confrontational attack accompanied by stirring electric guitars which descend into the darkest pits of despair. Emma confronts these themes with wonderfully poetic yet devastating lyricism.
'Human Kindness' serves as the album's climax, as vocals and swirling guitars layer on top of each other over it's 8 and a half minute runtime. It's a fully enveloping number as Emma paints a losing battle of human kindness against the dominating forces of the day. The following 'Oceans of Time' makes for a haunting outtro after the devastation.
These Killing Times is another great album from Emma. She builds on her experiences as a metal adjacent singer-songwriter and turns her focus out at the sorry state of the world for another emotionally crushing yet cathartic release. Excuse me while I now go sit in a dark room and attempt to decompress.
