ALBUM REVIEW: Employed To Serve – ‘Fallen Star’

British metallers Employed To Serve take the reins for a sonically experimental endeavour. Colliding at high impact a collection of metal genres ranging from hardcore and nu-metal to metalcore and thrash, Fallen Star is their most dynamically diverse and captivating album to date.

Catharsis bleeds through the tracklist, manifesting through and being expressed in multiple forms. Employed To Serve’s idiosyncratic heaviness is delivered in thundering rhythms and the inescapable fury that emanates from vocalist Justine Jones’ and guitarist / co-vocalist Sammy Urwin’s harsh vocals. The sonic texture of each track is key to the band’s immense sound. In Fallen Star, Employed To Serve take this further through their use of varying instrumental textures and a thrilling variety of vocal performances including from guests Will Ramos of Lorna Shore, Serena Cherry of Svalbard, and Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage.

Bearing all of this in mind, it’s interesting that Treachery was the choice of opener for Fallen Star. It provides a raucous start to the album, with its sheer angst unveiled across the instrumentation and fierce harsh vocals. This track’s character very much centres around a volatile sound. Not much is given away at this point as to what lies in wait later in the track list. It’s not long however, before Employed To Serve let loose their creative freedom, demonstrating their experimentation through the record’s title track, Fallen Star. Greeted by a delicate piano led introduction, the fast and heavy soon hits hard accompanied with an eerie atmosphere. The interplay and distinctive nature of Jones’s and Urwin’s vocals soon shine through here, while Jones brings brutality, Urwin’s cleans bring a striking contrast in the anthemic leaning chorus. Playing with a wider range of emotions, the outfit’s sound remains situated in the realms of catharsis.

The first of the guest features arrives in Atonement with an appearance from Will Ramos. In an exploration of toxic relationships, this bloodthirsty offering combines intensity with a catchy chorus hook. Contrast is king once again here with the cacophonous verses appearing at odds against the chorus arrangements. An array of vocal textures augments the impact, enhanced with Ramos’ iconic gutturals but also his soaring cleans. Incredibly atmospheric, Breaks Me Down brings an ‘80s-esque soundtrack with touches of dissonance. An unexpected use of beats, synths and Urwin’s cleans take a very different turn. Heavy staccato stabs add drama, with details such as technical guitar riffs and glitches bringing further intrigue. The two soundscapes merge together into a dark combination. ETS’ heaviness takes centre stage in Familiar Pain and Brother, Stand Beside Me with riffs, rhythms and vocals driving an untameable indomitable power.

The formidable onslaught continues in Now Thy Kingdom Come. Amidst the unyielding aggression, there is also a grandiose aspect to the sound. Serena Cherry adds an alluring ethereal edge with clean vocals to the backdrop of menacing distortion in Last Laugh. Its interplay of light and shade is not so typical – continuing the albums theme of blending old-school riffs with more modern metal hints here and there. Followed by Whose Side Are You On?, Jesse Leach’s performance amplifies the explosive, brutality in a track that harkens to 2000s nu metal. Just when you think it can’t get heavier or more intense, then this song arrives on the track list. The icing on the cake is the abysmal breakdown.

The Renegades falls into the more melodic side of their sound. Chorus arrangements with Urwin’s cleans and a memorable quality. Orchestral strings inject a different type of emotional quality into the wall of sound. Fallen Star reaches its end with From This Day Forward. Discordant layers and mighty slower hits intensify the song’s heaviness, along with marching percussion. Layered distorted vocals in the chorus produce a mighty effect, while melodies are carried in the instruments below. Contained within, a serene minimalist section of Urwin’s cleans and a lighter guitar melody conjure up a moment of calm. It all concludes with a dark explosion, and echoes of harsh screams with piano notes fading out.

Fallen Star is undoubtedly a gripping release demonstrating the progression in Employed To Serve’s career. The quintet fuses the sound they are best known for with a smorgasbord of influences to create a fury of chaos and intrigue across the album.

For fans of: Ithaca, Pupil Slicer, Blood Command

‘Fallen Star’ by Employed To Serve is out now on Spinefarm Records.

Words by Holly Royle