Feersum Ennjin is latest project of Paul D'Amour, ex-bassist and founder of Tool. If you didn't know that but are a Tool fan listening, you would more likely than not be able to recognize the famous distortion heavy triplets and spooky voodoo tom rhythms characteristic of Tool's earlier work on Opiate and Undertow. You will also discern that it is a much weaker less climactic work.
This self-titled EP sounds well produced and well mixed, but there is a noticeable something that is not there. Perhaps it has been my recent lack of patience for bands that are making money, selling music that is slow and dragging without a sufficient amount of panache filling the empty spaces. Take Isis for example, whom has made a career out of mid-tempo metal. The texture of their sound and ability to remain unpredictable makes the slow tempo listenable and keeps you coming back for more. So I attempted to keep this biased attitude out of mind as I listened, and was determined focus my attention on other reasons why I simply did not enjoy this album.
This five song EP gives enough of a sampling to fully grasp what Feersum Ennjin has to offer. Like the majority of music on the playlist at your local modern rock radio station, they follow a pattern that has worked in the past and can sell. However, lame songwriting, hollow vocals, and the fact that I can listen to the album five times without any recollection of a melody, prevents the indulgence of listeners. Hold on a minute. I am interupting my own review to disclose a recent relization. This band does not, can not rock! Rock music without proper rockability is like Linus without his blanket: sad and naked. I don't care how cool their name is(and I do think they have a sweet name), if they can't rock and roll, who will be crowdsurfing? Nobody.
It is my opinion that Feersum Ennjin, will not succeed because of their hesitancy to explore the vast spectrum of directions that progressive metal has to offer. It is a shame that the creative juices of such a visionary have run dry.
1.5/4
