"Soundtrack To A Headrush" is essentially Emanuel's debut album, yet the band has been building up to this for 7 years now. Forming in '98 in Louisville, KY, these screamo-pop aficionados have waxed their particular brand of self-appraising hard rock by way of emo to shine blindingly in an arena known for mediocrity. Admittedly the competition is still as ravenous as any genre, yet Emanuel's pop sensibilities and frequent rendezvous' with rawer rock elements make them a contender even if the ten tracks included never seriously define the band as a must-listen.

The group's confidence and songwriting ability raise them above bands like Emery, Saosin and other acts in the scene, yet whittle away the individual pieces and Emanuel take on a resemblance to a more emo-centric Blindside. Consolidating dynamic hooks with a rock-oriented surge of adrenaline assists in driving home the band's highly polished screamo agenda, plus there's a refreshing lack of emphasis on love and relationships. Lyricist and frontman Matt Breen instead has compiled an album that accurately captures a miserable year in one's life, pitfalls and blunders included. There are a few cuts that seem to try to push the envelope merely to turn heads, as lead single "You Cannot Rape The Willing" and "The New Violence" aren't nearly as risque as they attempt to be and seem needlessly flashy in meaning.

Still these qualities are enough to sustain the band through this streamlined debut, working Armor For Sleep melodies with a snottier, dirtier rock edge. Yet when it comes to a close it's uncanny how easily Emanuel fall into place as the Hoobastank of screamo. The same focal point on studio-slick production values & syrup-sweet vocal hooks apply, though it'd be a crime if not to say the commercial marketability is a primary factor in such a comparison. This is not to knock the group, as they have honed ten tracks that cling to memory and audibly beg for another listen. It's just that it becomes a much more daunting task to remember who exactly it is you're listening to. In a flooded genre with unavoidable pop implications, Emanuel are indeed a solid entry into screamo territory; but they're just another casualty as far as having a memorable identity is concerned.