REVIEW: Picture Me Broken – Mannequins EP

December 28th, 2012

Kriston McConnell

Artist: Picture Me Broken
Album: Mannequins EP
Genre: Rock/Alternative Metal
Label: Standby Records

Picture Me Broken are a five piece alternative metal band hailing from Redwood City, California. The Mannequins EP will be the band’s 3rd release since their debut EP first dropped in 2009. They have steadily grown in popularity over the years and are quickly making a name for themselves in the rock/alternative metal scene.

If you’re looking for something a little heavy from this band, the title track “Mannequins” would be that song. In comparison to the rest of the tracks on the EP this catchy song is the heaviest. It’s obvious they put a lot of effort into the song and it is the best one to be the title track.

The next track that should be noted is “Beautiful Disguise”. The lead vocalist, Layla, sings along with a piano accompaniment. She has taken the opportunity to really showcase her vocal range with this song and easily succeeded in doing so. It’s hard to believe that anyone can hit such high notes sometimes but she does so well. Some of the lyrics in this track seem a little cheesy, as they do in the other tracks as well, which is something that takes away from the listening experience.

Layla has a powerful and clean singing voice. There’s no denying that she has some real vocal talent. However, her screaming vocals are not quite at the same caliber. It’s not necessarily because she’s a woman, there are plenty of female fronted bands that are incredible, hers just sound muted and held back. I will say though that her screaming vocals improved greatly in comparison to the way she sounded Wide Awake.

While I do think this band has developed musically since their previous release I can’t help but feel like this is something that I would really only enjoy as a teenager, not as a twenty-something year old. Other than that though they definitely a well rounded, balanced sound. The band’s weakest areas would be in some of the lyrics and the screaming vocals. While I would expect them to continue to develop their musical pallets, I can’t imagine they will stray from the emo-like alternative metal sound which has made them so popular up until this point.

SCORE: 6/10

Review written by: Kriston McConnell