Posted on: November 22, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Pretty much every local emorock band that came out since the release of Senses Fail’s EP has done a cover from the formers retinue, whether it be “187” (Silver in December, The Goodlife) or “Stephen” (Tripping Linda). It is simply not possible to overestimate their influence on the up and coming emo scene, and it is this fact that “Let It Enfold You” is an album that is tremendously important, either pushing the scene into bold new direction or retarding the growth of that form. Starting off the disc with “Tie Her Down”is standard fare, sounding as if they took a track off their EP on re-arranged. The large sound of Senses Fail is still intact, and the band first runs into some issues with the second track, “Lady In A Blue Dress”. While everything is decently arranged, the component parts of the act just don’t properly mesh with each other, making for a disjointed track that makes it virtually impossible to get into. Bashing a thrash-influenced backbeat over their listeners heads with “You’re Cute When You Scream”, Senses Fail provide a much more coherent sound, and involve their listeners much more emotionally during the track.

Finally getting into the Siren-like harmonies of their “From the Depths of Dreams” EP during “Buried A Lie”, mixing a Yellowcard-esque driven beat with a more nuanced guitar and diverse sound to something greater than the sum of its parts. Getting into some mid-disc doldrums, both “Bite to Break Skin” and “Rum Is For Drinking, Not For Burning” show some of the same cohesion issues that “Lady In A Blue Dress” had. The inclusion of a more proactive bass during “Rum” is a new development that is welcome to see, as are the double bass lines of “Slow Dance”. “Slow Dance” shows some restraint on the part of Senses Fail, and this restraint makes for a more full sound, mixing the best of metal, punk and emo. “Choke On This” is a snippet of the whole – showing everything that makes Senses Fail one of the premeire bands of emo music at the current, using melodramatic vocals and a bevy of different sounds, as well having an infectious chorus. Senses Fail had everything to prove during this, their first LP, and they have passed all the tests, maintaining a distinct style but innovating enough that there is some draw to the disc, some reason for fans to buy this.

Top Tracks: Choke On This, Let It Enfold You

Rating: 7.0/10

Senses Fail – Let It Enfold You / 2004 Vagrant / 13 Tracks / http://www.sensesfail.com / http://www.vagrant.com / Reviewed 13 November 2004

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