Muffinwalking

I know what you're thinking. You're wondering when I'll review a new release. Well, here's your answer:

When I feel like it. Happy now? Good.

Here we have a spectacular specimen of sonic superiority (see what I did there with that alliteration?). "Sleepwalking" is the debut album from Dallas, TX metal act Memphis May Fire. And these boys did not disappoint.

The opening of the first track shows you exactly what to expect for this whole album. The guitars grab you by the ears and don't let go for the whole album. With influences ranging from blues to jazz to good ol' rock 'n roll to the heaviest of metal, the guitarists on this album (Ryan Bentley and Kellen McGregor) not only have talent, but showcase it brilliantly. They have a mastery that few in the industry can match. These two individuals truly give life to the music, and they most definitely lead you on a beautiful journey through this work of art.

Now, drummers and bassists tend to get gypped on the recognition end of things, but Jeremy Grisham on the beats and Austin Radford on the strings work perfectly with the absolutely crushingly amazing guitars. These guys know exactly how to flow with the music, and they do their job excellently.

I must bring the vocals into this review, because they truly compliment the style. Now, fans were a bit worried about this release, because the former vocalist stepped down during the recording process for this album. However, Matt Mullins not only lived up to expectations, he exceeded them. His clean vocals are hauntingly harmonious and his screams are wonderfully brutal. Matt's style wraps this album up neatly in a shiny metal bow.

The lyrics are also worth mentioning. There are challenges and proverbs in every song. "A Giant in a Giant's World" has Matt shouting "A wise man speaks when he has something to say / but fools just have to say something / A wise man speaks when he has something to say / just keep your mouth shut, just keep your mouth shut". His challenge is for us to be better and not just on the outside. Later, in "Quantity is Their Quality", he lashes out at this materialistic culture we've all become slaves to.

The standout track on this album, the title track, and my personal favorite, "Sleepwalking" is by far the best written and worth the most attention. They've pulled out all the stops and let every punch land on this song. Matt's vocal onslaught tears into two-facedness, hypocrisy, and the complete disregard for human decency: "And I have seen how all of this ends / Sleepwalking our way to contentment / I won't just let it be and let you smile through your teeth / You call yourself human / So say it straight to me". He issues the single greatest challenge, yet the simplest task, that we seem to have so much trouble with: being a decent human being, to stop sleepwalking through our lives.

All in all, this is one of my favorite albums. The songwriting is just so complete; the music, vocals, and lyrics support each other and build upon each other in a way few other albums have managed to. They don't care if they offend, they don't care if they put you off. The boys in Memphis May Fire know what they stand for, and aren't afraid to scream it from every stereo: "We're all searching for something so much greater than what we have / And these lies have nothing to offer us / A bigger meaning a better purpose / Please trust me this is worth it / You don't have to be the person you were yesterday".

>Pawn