Review Summary: A messier, more authentic faith
For over 20 years, Emery have been revealing scars. I’ll never forget when I saw them live with my cousin who only tagged along to see the Christian contemporary outfit, The David Crowder Band. When Emery took the stage and threatened to tear it down with their manic performance of “Walls”, he looked genuinely frightened. This wasn’t the joyous, collective worship hour he anticipated, but dammit, was it real. Over a decade has passed since that moment, but with
Rub Some Dirt on it Emery proves once again they’re not afraid to tell it how it is – even if it means alienating certain corners of their fanbase.
The anxious “You Stole God from Me” isn’t just a career highlight – it’s perhaps the most gripping and controversial track they’ve ever written. While the band haven’t exactly been shy about their doubts or struggles with faith in the past, it’s safe to say we haven’t heard anything
quite like this. Vocalist Toby Morrell is at his most venomous here, unleashing an uneasy spoken word section that explodes unpredictably as he calls out the hypocritical, one-sided thinking that pushed him away from the church. The menacing guitars lay down a healthy dose of distortion around a grimy stoner-rock groove; it never fails to get your adrenaline going.
Originally released as a live jam session, the studio version of
Rub Some Dirt on It retains a special, more intimate connection with its audience than your typical Emery album. This is as apparent from the sparsest moments as well as the most relentless. Whether getting lost in Devin’s soft, passionate croon in “I Don’t Know You At All” or bouncing around to the collective screams in the riff-heavy “Concussion”, there’s a clear sense Emery’s heart is more invested in this album. Part of this spark can be traced back to Emery’s close-knit community – those responsible for funding this batch of songs. Yet, there’s also clear evidence the Tooth and Nail legends had a lot to get off their chests on their ninth album.
Turning your back on God isn’t something you can easily bounce back from, but
Rub Some Dirt on It explores a messier, more authentic faith. The older we get and the cozier our bubble starts to feel, the more the doubt starts to ooze in and overwhelm us with uncomfortable questions. Emery’s music is so effective because it reminds us that we’re not alone in this regard. Rather than forcing unwavering hope and optimism, their songs are often drenched in despair or shame – always examining what makes us such flawed creatures. Due to this approach, it has the opposite effect of the average Sunday sermon. What’s so uniquely empowering is the fact that Emery’s members refuse to give up. They’ve deconstructed their faith and built from scratch. They’ve even left the Church and started their own podcast, but they haven’t left God. I’ve personally struggled with my beliefs for quite some time now, but at the very least
Rub Some Dirt on It challenges me to search for answers again. In the most confusing, unsure times, that speaks volumes.
