For a band like Emil Bulls, who have been slavishly grinding away at their music for coming up to three decades now, it is a wonder that their latest album Love Will Fix It (Arising Empire), is the first collection of original music to come from the band in over five years. Having come through various waves of metal and hard rock, whilst bringing plenty along for the ride into their own unique sound, it’s truly curious how much they’ll have taken in their stride since the release of their previous album, Kill Your Demons.
While a lot of metal can be seen as more sad or angry music, Emil Bulls main goals for the album was to create what they’ve described as a “Manifesto of healing and unity” Without a doubt, in 2024, unity and healing is what the majority of people are needing it right now, and Emil Bulls are here to preach these feelings in the form of sound.
It is without a doubt from the first ring of the crescendo built up in the first song “Backstabbers” where this album was made to be performed – the open air. Full of massive Hard Rock choruses that wouldn’t be seen out of place at festivals across America similar to the likes of Shinedown, combined seamlessly with these heavier nu-metal sections which give off more of the airs of Korn and Skindred (minus the reggae influence in the latter, naturally!).
You can instantly foresee the songs being massive in these open air arenas, huge pits going for the verses whilst people sitting on each others shoulders bellow that earworm of a chorus right back to the band. Undeniably a great start for those into their Sirius Octane Radio bands.
The album hits a roadblock at the third track however. Individually the sections of the songs do what they want them to, the choruses once again feature that similar Shinedown vibe, and the nu-metal sections, albeit less prominent than the opening track, are still there. On “The Devil Made Me Do It”, in contrast to “Backstabbers”, the cracks begin to show and these vastly different sounding parts of the song seem oddly stitched together, never letting one part get fully into the swing of things before the other springs up. It’s in this, that in celebrating the influences, clearly worn on the bands sleeves, Emil Bulls are trying too hard to make them sound like these giants in their genres leading to an overall derivative effect across the board.
Luckily, songs like “Love Will Fix It All” don’t have this issue at all, deciding rather than to split their sounds across a single song, to rather focus on one for this track. With an upbeat major rhythm, the band creates this fresh sound that is both relaxing and cheerful whilst also being cathartic at the same time. It’s a song made to be played at a beach, at a BBQ, somewhere where there’s no pressure to be a certain way. Christoph Von Freydorf’s vocals sounding the most natural and carefree than the rest of the album,
The title track, is the closest to what the vibe that band set out to make in the album. Pure, good vibes just radiate from this song, and will be one to listen out for on the live circuit as the atmosphere it’ll create will be unlike any other.
At its strongest, Love Will Fix It truly does what the band set out to accomplish, with big choruses designed to get their fans and crowds singing along, making fun rock tunes that everyone can enjoy and get something emotionally healthy and cathartic from. At the release’s worst, though, it’s a bit of a mish-mash mess. The genre influences of nu-metal and octane radio hard rock clash consistently, and aside from a few songs, don’t give each other the right breathing space.
In the album there’s so much that can be taken from this to reach the next level, and songs like the title track clearly display this for all to see. This’ll be one to see on the festival circuit regardless.
Buy the album here:
https://linktr.ee/emilbullsofficial
6 / 10
CHARLIE HILL