Embr unleash a new music video for the track »Powder« taken from their debut album, »1823«, out via New Heavy Sounds

Alabama doom rock outfit Embr has unleashed a new music video for the track »Powder« taken from their debut album, »1823«, which was released in July 2020 via New Heavy Sounds.

“When we wrote »Powder« we had some specific elements we wanted to incorporate. We knew it was going to be a song for the middle of the album and we wanted it to sound more intense vocally than some of the other songs. We wanted it to be hard hitting and essentially be the heaviest song on the album. Knowing these things we set out to have Eric and Crystal intertwine or take turns with sections. Eric on verses and Crystal on choruses.” says the band. “Lyrically the song is two fold. It’s about transgressing against someone, realizing you were wrong, asking for forgiveness, redemption. On the side of the one that was wronged, forgiveness can be tricky and sometimes you can end up towing the line between letting something go and holding a grudge. It’s a song about forgetting hell to embrace heaven, a song about love and friendship conquering hate and resentment.”

At this point, it is worth stating that the title »1823« has significance. Drummer Eric Bigelow received a kidney transplant in the middle of writing the album. The kidney was from a deceased donor. All Eric and Crystal Bigelow (singer and Eric’s wife) know about the donor is that they were female and between the ages of 18-23. The album is dedicated to the donor and the surgeons at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville TN. And a fine tribute it is.

Musically »1823« could be classed as “doom” metal. However, on the basis of this debut it’s obvious that Embr have a range, ambition and a desire to and add to the genre, to broaden it whilst always staying true to its core.

The band have all the nuts and bolts in place, massive drop-tuned guitars, chest rattling low end, pounding drums, distortion. But they also add in synths, a bit of grunge and alt rock, and most strikingly, the stellar vocal talents of Crystal, who’s powerful soaring voice when added to the mix, helps transport the band’s music skyward, adding soul, and an air of melancholia to the proceedings. If a musical pointer were needed, think Mastodon meets Witch Mountain with added epic sweep and gothic drama, and you’d be in the ballpark.

Embr is:
Crystal Bigelow – Vocals
Eric Bigelow – Drums
Mark Buchanan – Guitar
Alan Light – Bass

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well