I can't help but feel this would have been a late noughties metalcore staple. With a sound that
more than lends itself to the likes of Misery Signals (a nice guest vocal by Karl Schubach aids in
this) and For the Fallen Dreams, it is unlikely Empires Fade are going find themselves catapulted
to superstardom pedalling this style of ethereal but ultimately derivative metalcore, simply
because the audience for this is not what it once was.
The assortment of elegant lead sections and a nice chunky rhythm will provide anyone with a
partiality to metalcore plenty of enjoyment. The lead guitar lines prove to be the major highlight
throughout the near 40 minute run time.
The lyrical content proves to be hit and miss. Having taken shots at religion, Empires Fade come
across as small minds thinking big in songs such as 'Worthless' and 'Eyes Wide Shit', providing
neither the insight nor the articulation to adequately tackle the issue. They seem more
comfortable covering more traditional lyrical themes such as betrayal and loss.
Vocally, the Edge of Existence is extremely polished. This again works to both it's advantage and
it's disadvantage. On one hand, the lead vocals are deep, aggressive and feature highly in the
mix, this provides them with added presence. The clean vocals however bother me at points as they
seem overly doctored and unnatural.
Overall, the Edge of Existence is not without flaws but is a refreshing revival for melodic
metalcore.
Recommended: Worlds Apart, Hidden Truths, the Edge of Existence
1 Bumps | Bump |
