Memphis May Fire (MMF) are back with their brand new album, entitled Challenger. If you like cozy pop music and big ballads you might as well stop reading right here. Fans of bands like Adept, Walking With Strangers and Attack Attack! might want to check it out. This is a heavy, fast-paced metal-core with melodic verses. You know the formula by now; screamed verses and sung choruses. But there is no reason to change a concept that is not flawed. I would also describe this band as a much heavier version of Nural, especially during the melodic, sung parts.
I like the screams and the singing as well as the addition of keyboards for effects. The main problem is that some of the songs are a bit weak. This in turn leads to some of the songs sounding the same. The big exception is Miles Away which is the closest to a ballad that we get here. Not the best song but a nice change in pace compared to the other songs. After that we are back to the heavier songs again and this is also where MMF’s strength is. You see while there are weak songs, there are also strong songs, strong enough to balance this album and also tip the scales in a positive way. I mostly like Generation: Hate, Jezebel and Red in Tooth and Claw.
So is this a challenger for album of the year? Maybe not, but it is an album you should check out! If you are a fan of the band since before you know what you get. Only this time it comes in a nicer package in terms of sound quality and production. Their best work so far!
Justin Hawkins, the singer of Hot Leg/The Darkness sang backing vocals on Def Leppard´s cover of The Sweet´s song "Hell Raiser" for their 2006 covers album "Yeah!"
