Review: Memoriam – For the Fallen
It’d be impossible to write this review without referring to Bolt Thrower. The Coventry crushers cultivated quite a following with their concise, clinical death metal that perfectly captured the brutal, callous nature of war. Even more respect was forthcoming when they shelved their ninth album as they felt it wasn’t up to scratch; their existence subsequently limited to sporadic, well received live appearances, before bowing out late last year following the death of drummer Martin Kearns. The creative impulse is an itch that needs scratching however, as we see with the inception of Memoriam, a band featuring Bolt Thrower alumni Karl Willetts (vocals) and Andrew Whale (drums). They’re not the only big name British death outfit getting in on the action however, as fellow Midland metallers Benediction are represented by their long time bassist Frank Healy and live guitarist Scott Fairfax, completing something of a superstar lineup.
The old school style is one of a few branches of death metal that is in vogue right now, with plenty of up and coming bands striving to replicate the sound of the late ’80s/early ’90s. With veterans who lived and breathed the scene back in the day, Memoriam can bring a certain authenticity to their music that more recent acts will struggle to replicate. And it has to be said they do a damn fine job in recreating that vibe, as For the Fallen does sound like it could’ve been plucked from the vaults of the burgeoning death metal scene 25-30 years ago. The clear, muscular guitar tone absolutely flattens you, with just enough muddiness to invoke the murky spirit of yesteryear. Riffs pulsate with a sick groove, littered with pinch harmonics and harrowing melodies, all the while propelled by Whale’s solid drumming. In death metal, it’s easy to get bogged down by excessive exercises of speed and/or complexity, but Whale sits in the pocket and provides a platform for the riffs to punish and pulverize, accenting them and giving them greater impact. Even Fairfax’s faster tremolo picked riffs don’t tend to be matched for pace by Whale, making them feel all the more heavier for it. Willetts’ gruff, discernible bark sounds a little tired, but at 50 years old, he’s more than due a little slack. They’re a far cry from the monstrous grunts on Those Once Loyal or the slightly raspier vocals on Realm of Chaos, but they work for the material present.
There’s little to fault to find in the songs themselves. They’re all pretty well written, with little to no fat needing to be trimmed. There’s variety in song length and tempo, with the longer tracks faring well; the fact that “Flatline” and “Last Words” can fly by with durations of 7:35 and 8:45 respectively is testament to the songwriting talents of the group. Opener “Memoriam”, with it’s wonderful see sawing riff that drags you back and forth, feels a little underdeveloped, but serves as more of an introduction than anything else anyway, with lyrics that seem to pay tribute to the late Kearns (as I understand it, the project is intended as a remembrance to him).
Memoriam set out to deliver neck snapping, old school death metal, and that’s exactly what you get with For the Fallen. It’s nothing that’s going to take the extreme metal world by storm, but that’s alright, as sometimes there’s nothing better than a new spin on old concepts. Memoriam are better set than most for this task, and they’ve proven they’re more than capable of being up to it with For the Fallen.
Rating: 7/10 – solid throwback from some of the Midlands’ old school death metal masters.
Highlights: “War Rages On”, “Flatline”, “Last Words”
For further information on Memoriam, visit: Facebook, Official Website
For the Fallen is available worldwide now, via Nuclear Blast Records.
