Album Review: Emma Ruth Rundle – These Killing Times
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
When we think of heavy music, several bands come to mind. Yob, Sunn O))), Meshuggah. There’s some that may not come to mind. Like Emma Ruth Rundle. Before I lose you, let’s redefine what it really means to be heavy. Let’s take her 2021 full length ‘’Engine Of Hell’’ for instance. Tackling addiction, grief, and childhood trauma makes for pretty heavy subject matters to say the least! Not heavy in the same guttural vocals, down tuned distorted guitars, and ferocious blast beats are. But rather a heaviness that really speaks to the core of our beings.
That’s all part of Emma’s song writing philosophy, where she says ‘heaviness can come from the honesty within and just the emotional content’. Armed with just a piano, guitar, and a series of raw unfiltered takes, this may be one of the emotionally poignant and emotionally heavy albums you’ll ever hear! How can her upcoming record “These Killing Times” compare then? Will we see any of these trends continue?
Well firstly, we’ll see Emma returning to a full band set up – like on previous albums – with a star studded lineup of guest musicians (a topic we’ll return to later). Equally, we also see her maintain this poignant and direct approach with the piano being key to establishing a sombre undertone to the music in tracks like ‘Anvil’ and ‘Powerless’. Kind of necessary to convey Emma’s feelings of hopelessness whilst observing many of the natural disasters in her native USA and being unable to change that. Though she ups the ante and deploys the extra musicians in her arsenal to devastating effect, in particular during the choruses to engulf you, the listener, in walls of layers of cathartic distortion as dense as the topic itself. That speaks to Emma’s musical background, when she recalls being on tour with Red Sparowes in Europe, listening to drone metal act Earth on repeat and wanting to incorporate this textural approach in her own music. That drone inspiration and multi-faceted approach can be observed in ‘Human Kindness’, with the dynamics constantly shifting from mellow and ambient to sonic armageddon whilst the pace remains slow and marauding within this eight minute opus.
This sheer complexity of the music and lyrical content should serve as a warning and enticing prospect in equal measures. A warning to those wanting an easy listen and something more bubblegum, whilst making those who crave more substance and challenge from their music salivate like Pavlov’s dog! Every time you return to the album, you’ll notice something new. Whether that be a different background instrument, a new interpretation of the lyrics, or fresh appreciation for the work of art she’s produced! This applies to ‘Don’t Delay Heaven’, a personal highlight. What exactly is she referring to when she says ‘we here in Babylon, we don’t believe’? A yearning for a world not built on corruption and political tensions tearing the world as we know it apart? Perhaps a question best discussed over a glass of wine…
Part of that art is the list of musicians she’s assembled, including members of Tera Melos, Chelsea Wolfe, and Baroness. This adds firepower to the lineup for sure and some serious respect to boot! Though with so many musicians, the risk of watering down your own abilities and strength of your brand is always there. Though Emma’s voice is largely the only one we hear, aside from backing vocals in ‘Oceans Of Time’, thus ensuring her identity is constantly imprinted on each song and thus the album as a whole.
So, is “These Killing Times” the heaviest album this year? When we try to compare it to albums like “Descent” by Immolation, then the New Yorkers have the edge in terms of sheer pace and aggression. But if we’re judging solely on sentimental power and pure textural depth, “These Killing Times” is one of the most impactful and emotionally heaviest of all!
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