‘Imbue’, the fourth full-length by original Drive Thru Records signees The Early November, is their heaviest release to date. Having signed to Rise Records upon their return in 2011, the post-hiatus New Jersey five-piece have continuously developed their sound – building upon the emo driven sound that dominated their first two full-length releases and creating an altogether more atmospheric sound.
Where 2012’s ‘In Currents’ focussed on drawn out, melody driven choruses, ‘Imbue’ takes a far more eclectic stance. The spine-tingling vocal moments that frontman Ace Enders has spent years perfecting remain, such as on ‘Better This Way’ and ‘I Don’t Care’, sitting against the new directions showcased on the likes of the more upbeat pop numbers ‘Boxing Timelines’, ‘Cyanide’ and the altogether more punchy ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’.
Risking inconsistency criticisms, ‘Imbue’ sees The Early November attempt to break out. Led predominantly by Enders’ unfaltering vocals, the guitar work is pushed up a notch from anything they have delivered in the past. The melodies however remain in place, as is immediately evident from album opener and lead track, ‘Narrow Mouth’.
‘Imbue’ risks losing the emotive intensity in favour of a more complex listening experience, which will undoubtedly split opinion, yet the vocal layering on ‘The Negatives’ or the progressive sound on ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ offer something entirely new to long-standing fans. Still, where The Early November and ‘Imbue’ truly stand out is the grandiose atmospheric moments that fortunately still find themselves intertwined.
BEN TIPPLE