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DROID

DROID

Emotional Syphon (2007)

by Charles R Greaves

 

Under the wing of Emotional Syphon , a label founded by Korn guitarist Munky Schaffer, and

made up of rap metal veterans, Droid has launched its maiden recording. Should be a winner.

 

"Resurrection" is the opening track and it’s a solid bit of work, in fact the disc has tasty guitar

work and some nice musicianship; but taken as a whole, the tracks seem to blend together.

 "Built to Last" and "No Gods No Masters" like most of the other offerings seem nearly

interchangeable. Not that there is anything bad or poorly done, it’s just nothing reaches out

and grabs your throat, with the notable exception being "Vengeance is Mine".

 

On "Vengeance is Mine", Deftones front-man Chino Moreno puts in a very believable performance, roaring and raging like a Norse God from a mountain top. It’s real and it’s believable, and it’s what is missing from the rest of the disc. Nothing here is bad, but nothing else stands out as well.

 

"Salt the Graves" has a strong bit of songwriting and again the guitar work stands out. "My Oath"

has a strong groove, but there it ends. It’s hard to even say this, but it sounds corporate. Musicians

trying too hard to sell me a song or worse, just peddle another disc.

 

Every song here reflects music that is done better by someone else.  In the hands of Hatebreed ,

 the Deftones or Korn, this same material would have soared.  Droid isn’t a bad recording; it’s

just not a great one, not considering its pedigree. These are strong, well schooled, musicians

from whom we could have expected more, and should have gotten it.  Vocalist James Eason is

quoted as saying the band’s appeal is its "deep honesty".  "…if you’re not honest, people can tell".

 

I’ll wait for the next Droid effort, and hope for some deep honesty, and very likely this one

will sink to the bottom of my music collection.

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