| Slave to the Game | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Emmure |
| Cover: | Emmure STTG cover.jpg |
| Released: | April 10, 2012 |
| Recorded: | January–February 2012 |
| Studio: | The Foundation Recording Studios, Connersville, Indiana |
| Genre: | Deathcore, metalcore |
| Length: | 31:52 |
| Label: | Victory |
| Producer: | Joey Sturgis |
| Prev Title: | Speaker of the Dead |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
| Next Title: | Eternal Enemies |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
Slave to the Game is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Emmure, released on April 10, 2012, through Victory Records.[1] The record was produced by Joey Sturgis, who also did production on the band's previous album Speaker of the Dead.[2] It is the first album to feature drummer Mark Castillo, following the band parting ways with their former drummer Mike Kaabe in October 2011.
Slave to the Game is the band's highest charting album to date, peaking number 58 on the Billboard 200, and number 11 on the Top Independent chart. Despite its success, the album is frontman Frankie Palmeri’s least favorite out of the band’s work. In 2015 interview, Palmeri considered the album to be a “commercial failure” and said “The songs suck. It’s just not good. None of the riffs are good. I just don’t like it. I feel bad ‘cause I let that record happen.”[3] Frankie Palmeri has since changed his opinion as of June 21, 2021, as stated on the official Emmure X account, "I used to really dislike how (Slave To The Game) came out, but now I find that there's some really strong riffs and fun parts on that album. Some lyrics are also way angrier than I remember."[4]
It was announced on November 19, 2011 that Emmure would be heading into the studio with producer Joey Sturgis to record the album in January 2012.[5] Following this announcement, in January 2012, guitarist Jesse Ketive announced on his Facebook that the band had entered the studio and that they had employed drummer Mark Castillo to track drums on the album.[6] Castillo later announced that his position in Emmure would be permanent.[7] On January 20, 2012, Emmure announced through Victory Records that their new album would be named Slave to the Game.[1]
On February 14, 2012, Victory Records released a teaser video promoting the album, revealing the album's cover art.[8] In an interview with Alternative Press in promotion of the album, vocalist Frankie Palmeri said "It’s just a heavy fucking record. It’s another Emmure record that hopefully people get to enjoy with us, because we dig it and that’s what it comes down to. We just make albums we try to enjoy and hopefully people can come along for the ride."[9]
On March 7, 2012, the first single from Slave to the Game, titled "Protoman", was released through the band's Vevo account.[10] The band would later announce that "Protoman", as well as a second single entitled "I Am Onslaught", would be available as digital singles on both iTunes and Amazon.com on March 13, 2012.[11] On May 25, 2012, it was announced that Emmure was recording a video for their song "MDMA", thus making it the third single from Slave to the Game.[12]