Believe me, it’s not easy reviewing from a myspace stream, what with it cutting out and juttering everywhere. Nevertheless, ‘Black Earth Tiger’ is immediately an entirely different beast from the Emanuel of last last time round. From the first seconds of the opening track you can tell this is a darker, more aggressive beast. And while Emanuel are still as energetic and exciteable as they were on the last record, the dynamics are much stronger this time round – even a little Deftones-y at times, particularly in the way the vocals are delivered.
Because of this it’s very difficult to compare the band of old to the new, 2007 version. The songwriting has improved no end, so while the songs may take a little more time to get into, eventually you will grow to love them. ‘Cottonmouth’ is a real brooding bastard, while ‘My Antapex’ is a bit more of the band of old, mixed in with a more Deftones-style. It’s a style of music the band seem to have nailed, as ‘Phobos’ and ‘Let Them Die’ are equally as good in a manner the band had never really showcased before.
If you’re expecting a carbon copy of the last record you may be disappointed – if you’re willing to open your ears and welcome in a new sound, not too far from the Smashing Pumpkins at their best, then this may well be the record for you.