Grasping at Straws, Ember After’s first full length album, brings its mixture of hope and hopelessness to the masses for the first time. Beginning with the full frontal assault of “Hellblau,” Grasping quickly introduces its themes of the tensions of life and quest for release. “Lost,” the first single, yearns for peace of mind and soul through poetry, a catchy chorus, and driving electro-guitars. The cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” cements and outlines the musical direction Ember After takes with its growling, metallic, industrial, yet ethereal arrangements. The rest of the songs range from punchy slices of defiance such as “The Faker,” “Paradise,” and “Link” to moody and reflective songs such as “Grasping at Straws,” “Only You Remain,” “Disconnected,” and “Change.”
