EMBR is: Alan - Bass | Mark - Guitar | Crystal – Vocals | Eric - Drums
EMBR have 3 solid EP’s under their belt. In 2016 they released 261 which was an onslaught of heavy riffs and angelic vocals. In 2017 the band released 271, This release maintained a level of heaviness but they also managed to reign back on the onslaught and displayed their softer side. On 326:Spiritual Dialysis (early 2019) the massive sound was turned up, slowed down and was an absolutely defining and deafening assault. All of EMBR’s EP’s have been received very well and have had a wide array of sound while staying true to the mission.
EMBR released their debut full-length album 1823 on the UK label New Heavy Sounds in 2020 to critical acclaim. After 1823 they released a an EP named IDOLATRY and also released a single for MARY DID YOU KNOW in December 2020. Reviews are linked below.
Now in 2021 they have recorded a new 3 song EP (1021) to commemorate NEW HEAVY SOUNDS 10 year anniversary (OUT NOW). These 3 songs are guaranteed to be crushing and define a new chapter for the band.
1021 NEWS / REVIEWS:
"this is the heavy experimental doom that people need in their lives, and Embr are taking on the genre and starting to make waves.."
"1021 can only be judged as a success. That’s the math of it. As to the listening experience? This sounds like a band who are not fucking around. "
THE SLEEPING SHAMAN REVIEWS 1021
"even in a genre of tried and tested sensibilities, rules are meant to be broken, and that’s exactly what EMBR are here to do."
IDOLATRY NEWS / REVIEWS:
DISTORTED SOUND REVIEWS IDOLATRY
"In lesser hands, a four-track cover EP would be little more than a cash grab masquerading as hero worship. With Idolatry, EMBR have paid tribute to four of the most influential bands in the last thirty years, while also showing a huge amount of growth in the few months since their debut 1823."
THE SLEEPING SHAMAN REVIEWS IDOLATRY
"this EP is beyond a homage, feeling like an evolution of Embr’s sound, forming something more organic and actually less genre specific. The pairing of grunge, and Embr’s synonymous doom styling’s, really feels like the start of something new"
"As a small insight into influences and idols (assuming that’s what they were going for), EMBR have dropped a savvy collection of carefully crafted tributes chosen with care, highlighting their clear strengths, affinity with the grunge genre and, arguably, one of the best covers EPs from a modern band in a minute."
"Idolatry is every bit as well crafted as 1823."
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1823 NEWS / REVIEWS:
REVOLVER PREMIERES EMBR VIDEO/SONG YOUR BURDEN
"a Sabbathian dirge swirling with Southern Gothic vibes and lifted above the fog by Crystal's soaring vocals" - REVOLVER
CVLT NATION PREMIERES EMBR SONG EYES LIKE KNIVES
"It’s music that makes me close my eyes and sail off on whatever weird tangents my imagination wants to follow." - CVLT NATION
EMBR IN GUITAR WORLD
"With its drop-tuned humbucking intro, Embr might lull you into a false sense of doom-metal security, but as Your Burden attests, there’s more to these Birmingham, AL metallers than pure sonic annihilation."
METAL-RULES REVIEWS 1823
"1823 is the debut album of U.S. quartet Embr, and shows us a flavoursome, and often downright stunning take on doom metal and heavy music in general. "
THE SLEEPING SHAMAN REVIEWS 1823
"These elements come together to form something truly inspiring, and to come in at ground level with a new band such as Embr is an added bonus, as I believe that they’re going to rise and rise, so it will be interesting to see where they go from here. This is definitely the start of something special…"
ECH(((10)))ES AND DUST REVIEWS 1823
"It is with great satisfaction then to announce Embr are another fine addition to the welcoming expansion of bands in recent years bringing a freshness to metal’s dark and doomy tradition. "
"The follow up to impressive EPs 261 and 271, EMBR‘s debut full-length, 1823, finds the Birmingham, Alabama band hitting the ground running with their ambitious take on the doom genre and indeed all things heavy metal in general. "
"dropping a Black Sabbath-like Doom-laden thick and heavy backdrop to the reverb-soaked female vocals of Crystal Bigelow"
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261 REVIEWS
RIFF RELEVANT
[EMBR] have crafted an emotionally fueled offering driven by fantastic guitar fueling, fluid rhythms, and cohesive drumming."
DESERT PSYCHLIST
"excursions into areas of heavy psyched doom and occult rock, shifting through a myriad of differing dynamics and subtle time changes with Bigelow's vocals swooping and soaring majestically overhead."
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271 REVIEWS
"271 is a very dramatic and emotionally charged EP "
"what a superb item of U.S. doom we have here."
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326: SPIRITUAL DIALYSIS REVIEWS
"Punishingly heavy with sedated slowness on a level different than most Doom out there, EMBER could give SUNN O))) a run for their money."
RIFF RELEVANT
"If you liked the earlier output from EMBER, then I dare say that you are going to find yourself utterly enthralled by this latest aural adventure!"
"Crystal and Erik Bigelow are a couple on fire, united by the riff and crowned by the power and glory of fuzz for time and eternity. "
