MEMORIAM: TO THE END

 Memoriam: To The End

   This is Old-School Death-Metal done the right way. As any fan of the band will be aware of by now, Memoriam is comprised of veteran musicians with such pedigree and experience earned with some of Death-Metal's most renowned acts, but that requires no further explanation here. Within the space of 5 pivotal and turbulent years, Memoriam have displayed a pace of working utterly anomalous in today's musical age. The superb new full length, To The End, marks the bands fourth album to date and is unquestionably their most defining release so far.

   Unlike most extreme Metal bands, Memoriam have undeniably become heavier and more serious with each album, meaning that To The End is without a doubt their most crushing album yet. The album showcases a Memoriam far more concise, experimental and with a much grander sound than previously heard. Like 2019's magnificent Requiem For Mankind, To The End is produced by maestro Russ Russell, who manages to shape the music of a band confidently solidifying their identity and their own sound, into a brilliantly well produced Death-Metal epic.

   This is also the first release from the band since the departure of original drummer Andy Whale and the welcoming into the fold of Spike T Smith behind the kit. If anyone was unsure about how the new guy would fare on the album, then they need not worry, as Spike delivers a masterful driving and pummelling performance which complements his fellow band mates excellently. 

   To The End displays a band who, although are evidently firmly rooted in their Old-School Death-Metal heritage, they are not afraid to explore and experiment within their own field. Thematically the album continues seamlessly from its predecessors, with tales of war and battles, mental illness and disturbance, rebellion and social upheaval, but musically we hear Memoriam branching out in all sorts of different directions and with excellent results.

   If you want a good old fashioned Death-Metal ear drum battering, then look no further than opening bruiser "Onwards Into Battle", or the utterly furious breakdowns of "No Effect", or even to the title track "To The End" or "Vacant Stare" with riffs quite clearly learned from the Bolt Thrower school of intoxicatingly punishing rhythms. All of these tracks, while overflowing with massive crushing riffs, manic drumming and lead by Karl Willett's distinctive and harsher than ever vocals, are all executed in Memoriam's own now recognisable style. 

   Elsewhere, the punk ethic marches out with fists aloft on "Failure To Comply" armed with an ample supply of crunchy riffage that has a satisfying Carcass-esque likeness to their sound, and its big, almost anthemic atmospheric chorus. The wildcard here is the penultimate track, "Mass Psychosis", a number unlike anything else recorded by this band before. The rather disturbing and layered track is a concoction of industrial, raw Grindcore and technical approaches and boasts some mesmerising pulsing bass work, which all come together to create a grooving and grinding song, albeit a little bit odd.

   One of the definite album highlights has to be the utterly monolithic "Each Step (One Closer To The Grave)", a dirge so drenched in dismal Death-Doom that you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Asphyx or Vallenfyre. Closing the album is the epic tale of "As My Heart Grows Cold", which although it may not be the heaviest, slowest or fastest track on the album, it is a beautifully well constructed mournful ode that displays both expert musicianship and skillful song writing. 

   Overall, To The End is without a shadow of doubt Memoriam's grandest, most experimental and most ambitious release to date. The album is polished and crisp in sound, mercilessly heavy and is certain to vastly advance their already swelling ranks of fans. One thing is for certain, To The End is definitely a tough act to follow.

   If you don't much fancy reading the full review then check out the link below to watch the brief review video of YouTube;

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