By Dom Eagle
Emerge is the debut 11-track release from the alt-rock, country, folk and everything-in-between musician named Drew Mills. This album is a story. Mills has painstakingly labored over this body of work with the help of his friend and production expert, Nik Chinboukas, for a long time. It’s the culmination of his life’s journey. And this is abundantly clear from the sheer emotion that oozes out of every note strummed or sung.
“Soul Lover (feat. Lucia Micarelli)” is a spectacularly beautiful opening to Emerge. A gentle drum beat and a hauntingly beautiful acoustic guitar progression lay the foundation for Mills’ husky and melodic singing. I find myself paying such close attention to all of the finer details in this song. I adore the string instrumentation. There are some gorgeous arrangements on offer here. And it transitions so smoothly into “Another Color.” While the second track embodies the same mellow, beautiful energy as the opening track, however, there’s a little more of a raw, rock-centric feel to it. The distorted guitar lines that slide back and forth, reverberating in the distance, help to create a powerful yet dream-like melody. And the trumpet solo at the end was an unexpected delight. Truly mesmerizing.
“Lose My Mind” is a surprising change of pace. This bluesy, country ballad is driven by complex finger-picking on Mills’ trusty acoustic guitar, and there are some fantastic harmonica riffs thrown in there. Unexpectedly for this genre, some trumpet riffs have been added, too; it adds a welcome layer to the folky aesthetic of this track. The instruments blend so well together. Then, Mills leans more heavily into rock on “Even Now.” He delivers a grandiose performance, full of cacophonous vocals and massive electric guitar chords. The tender piano arpeggios contrast so magically with the harshness of the rest of the instrumentation. Melodically, this is certainly one of the highlights on the album (the chorus is incredibly catchy).
“I Shoulda Known” is a more laidback rock track. An easygoing electric guitar rhythm drives the track, but it’s really Mills’ vocals and the little flourishes of harmonica that give this song character. Imagine my surprise upon hearing “My Hurricane,” then. Genre-wise, it’s still a bluesy offering, but Mills dives headfirst into face-melting rock on this one. I thought “Even Now” was a loud track until I heard this one. The tone on the electric guitar is sizzling. Combine that with Mills’ diaphragm-shattering singing, that trusty ol’ harmonica and the pounding drum beat. You end up with pure fire. In terms of brutality and sheer energy, this is my favorite song on the album.
Hard rock isn’t enough. Mills fully delves into metal on “Bringin Me Down.” His rap-shouting on the verses, along with the chugging guitar, reminded me of classic nu-metal outfits, such as Disturbed. There’s an absolutely belting electric guitar solo at the end of this song. When I think back to the gentle beginning of Emerge, I would not have expected a song like this to crop up. And that’s why it’s such a shock that “Emerge,” the album’s self-titled track, is a short, instrumental, string-heavy interlude, immediately following the chaos of the previous track. And rock-fueled insanity resumes on “So Simple.” It’s hard to keep up, but I like being kept on my toes. The riff on this tune is meaty and infectious. It’s a welcome shift back to heavy rock.
“Give In To Me” is another belting rock anthem, driven by a delicious bass and guitar rhythm. Mills’ singing, yet again, is pristine. It might have a raw brutality to it, but he always makes sure every note is nailed. The album draws to a close with “Even Now – Piano Postlude,” which is an interpretation of “Even Now” performed on the piano by David Shenton. Mills said he just “had to include” it, and I think that summarizes the love that’s gone into this project. It might seem to be a solo album on the surface of it, but Mills lists so many names of loved ones and musicians who helped him to make this a reality. It’s the definition of a passion project, but it’s also a record with an incredibly professional sound. Mills has some real talent.
