Album Review: This Light I Hold - Memphis May Fire
Deliciously heavy, Memphis May Fire’s newest record bounds out of the gates with catchy melodies and positive messages. This Light I Hold may be the Texan’s 5th studio record, but it’s one of their strongest to date – the sheer power of each track building to an immense breakdown, putting the metal back into metalcore.
All of the songs have a similar set up: scream, breakdown, chorus, and slow acapella building into power of strength, but it’s the sections of lightness that make individual tracks stand out. ‘Better Things’ and ‘Out of It’ offer some spooky vibes introducing the use of bells and quiet whispered vocals that build, while ‘That’s Just Life’ is a tone change altogether as an electric acoustic tune. Some sick guitar solos grace many of the reoccurring breakdowns that follow the tranquil sections, simply begging for the introduction of a circle pit.
Both Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) and Larry Soliman (ex-My American Heart) are featured as guest vocalists on the record adding diversity and breaking up the continuous but well-done monotony. While not all the tracks sound the same, this diversity in vocals is appreciated and compliments frontman Matty Mullins’ vocals nicely.
On first listen, much of the record seems to follow the reoccurring theme of a corrupt and destructive relationship, but on closer examination, it seems that almost every track can be metaphorically deduced as a battle against the machine that is the music industry. ‘Carry On’ is one of the best and more straightforward examples, the lyrics fighting against the ‘They/You’ often referred to: “I’m not a puppet on a string/I’m not one of your machines”.
In true MMF fashion, all the tracks are personal yet relatable, illustrating struggles but highlighting the bright side with a positive swing. Each of the messages encourage keeping your head held high and fighting through. A slow arc seems to build as the tracks progress, from battling the nightmare in ‘Out of It’ to “I’ve seen the darkness be defeated” in ‘The Antidote’, resolving the dark mentality bit by bit with progression throughout.
