Memphis May Fire
The Hollow

Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

I'll admit, I am one of the solemn few who will forever praise Memphis May Fire's first self-titled EP as sheer post-hardcore bliss. The blistering vocals, the genuine musicianship, the vocal talent, the absolute originality- it was all just perfectly 'timeless'.

With the departure of former vocalist Chase Ryan, and the addition of current vocalist Matt Mullins- the band released their first LP entitled "Sleepwalking"; A solid step in the right direction for any maturing band. A nice blend of the old- their signature southern swagger- with a newer, heavier, more complex sound. A very well done record that definitely gave them their face. After the acclaim of that album they released their latest EP "Between the Lies", which instead of showcasing the band's southern rock style, seemed to lead towards showing off the bands versatility with more programming, synth, and breakdowns.

I have been long in await for their sophomore release, "The Hollow".
Not knowing what to expect, I went in as blind and cautiously optimistic possible, and I must say, upon dissecting this gem I was not disappointed in the least.
The album opens with "The Sinner"- a good preview of what to come during the rest of the album. Lower tuned-guitars contributing to a much more impacting sound, the injection of synth and some experimentation with programming- Just enough of it to be noticeable, but without being too overpowering; (a balance most bands on the forefront of the scene can't seem to comprehend), layered-screams contrasting belted out clean choruses, and well placed, chugging breakdowns; all the while riddled with Mullins' catchy, memorable, emotion-invoking lyrics. "The Unfaithful" follows up as the album takes a darker, more intrusive turn. The word 'haunting' leaping to mind after listening to the first break in which orchestral elements are combined with palm-muted guitars of Kellen McGregor and Ryan Bentley; another very well done cinematic moment that almost catches the listener off guard with it's dramatic, moving sound; Another solid track showcasing Mullins' vocal talent specifically in the outro. The album then continues with the same emotion-driven sonic assault through "The Victim and "The Abandoned"; each being refreshing to the 'screamo' palette as they drive home the point that even without the automatic presence of their southern roots- albeit present in a more subtle form- these gentlemen can still stand above most of their contemporaries.

"The Deceived", one of my personal favorites off of the album immediately reminds the listener of the MMF of old. It seems like somewhat of a peace offering to the fans crying out for their original southern twang. With a much more abrasive southern feel this track (being one of the highlights of the album in my opinion) really shows that they have fine-tuned and matured their sound to a nicely-carved niche. A faster track still on the southern scale of the album, "The Commanded" sails by perfectly withthe combined instrumentation of McGregor, Bentley, and drummer Jake Garland. Next up the album transitions into a display of another side of Memphis reminiscent of "Vaulted Ceilings" in "The Burden (The Interlude)". This song is undoubtedly becoming a trait the band will now carry; being able to invoke the same amount of emotion without vocals. The song instills what it was assuredly intended to with the simplistic notation and repetitive trance-like feel amidst the feuding couple in the background. It really says monuments about artists when they brave their own conflicts and attempt to recreate them in an effort to share a piece of them with the listener.

My other personal favorite off the record suddenly explodes onto the record, "The Haunted". Again carrying with it that lovely southern feel and in addition the use of some synth leaving the listener picking their jaws up off the ground with a breakdown that can only be described as utter destruction. "The Reality" continues on in a slower fashion; a much heavier feeling song with powerful lyrics and pleasing guitars and vocals. The lyrics in this song seem to be the selling point with lines like, "It seems like every soul has been sold for a dollar or less, I guess we'll never know how good it could've been." The closer to the album, "The Redeemed" unfortunately is the only song that falls a bit short of the rest of the album's standards in my opinion. It's definitely a good song; it carries on the feel of the album and solidifies their new sound, but I was hoping for a bit bigger of an exit. Something inciting the same feel as Alesana's "Annabelle".

In conclusion the album definitely stands far above those in its genre, being distinctive, but not so much as to push away the mainstream fans. The album is a cinematic masterpiece that retains the originality the band first hand oh so long ago, but keeping current with the trends of today's post-hardcore scene. It's definitely full of the same palm-muted guitars and chugging breakdowns, but at least they're kept it in its place keeping them from being the focal point of the song. Each member shines at their respective parts in putting this record together and have really shown this genre to be a respectable one. Unfortunately they will forever be compared to bands like Woe, is Me, Attack Attack! but if you look past the surface of the music with an album like "The Hollow", you can see why they're clearly miles ahead of their associates. A fantastic album to say the least.

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3.7 great

Rank: #0 for 2011