Review by Null
I found a great band.
First, I will provide some foundational background: Karl Willetts, the singer of Memoriam, started the band as a tribute to his bandmate, Martin Kearns, the late drummer of Bolt Thrower. He enlisted Frank Healy, the bass player from Benediction, Scott Fairfax on guitar, and Andy Whale on drums. What followed was a string of three incredible albums from 2017 through 2019. Before recording their latest release, Andy Whale was replaced by Spike T. Smith, whom has played for Morrissey, Killing Joke, and The Damned. Andy left the band as friends, simply stating that he needed to spend more time with his family. Other than this lineup change, the band members have remained consistent.
As I am not a metal aficionado, my references and attempt to explain Memoriam are limited to my own experience, which is one of the things that makes writing about music so much fun. Our musical landscapes differ depending on where we come from and what were have been exposed to through the years.
I stumbled across Memoriam by accident. I took a chance by picking up The Silent Vigil on cassette tape. All I knew about the band was that they referred to themselves as “old school death metal.” I wasn’t sure what that meant, as I am not a huge fan of “death metal” per say, despite my deep love of Cannibal Corpse. However, after giving a first listen to Memoriam, I was reminded that Cannibal Corpse is known as “extreme death metal” for a reason, and it queued me in on what “old school death metal” means.
The first thing I noted was that Memoriam were slower and created more space in their songs. They were a bit more akin to Black Sabbath than Cannibal Corpse. There was also a clear absence of “blast beats.” Forgive me, as my frame of reference for the unending categories of metal is quite limited. There are entire universes between Cannibal Corpse and Black Sabbath, but you know what they say, “write what you know.” The other noted difference was the vocals, even though on the Memoriam album they are somewhat “rough” they are not the “cookie monster” style that is characteristic of so many death metal bands. One can hear the words and the humanity in the singing. I instantly liked it.
Next, I watched a few Memoriam videos and interviews. What I found intrigued me even more. The videos seemed to have some political content that, as an old punk rocker, made me very excited. I watched the video for “Failure to Comply” and was reminded how soft so many of the “mainstream punk bands” are these days. The video stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests and the condemnation of a violent police state. Memoriam even has a t-shirt that is an homage to the old Crass t-shirts. Next, after watching a few interviews with the band, I learned that they were born out of punk rock as much as metal. Karl, who used to sing for Bolt Thrower, a band I had never heard, stated that he found a new freedom in Memoriam to sing about politics and real life, which were not part of the lyrical stylings and restrained subject matter of his previous band. Memoriam provided a new lease on life for these guys. The band provided a place where these old-timers could stretch their wings and move beyond the stylistic trapping of preconceived band concepts.
I immediately bought all of their albums. Though there are differences between the albums, there is also a consistency. They are all fucking great.
The most wonderful thing about the band is that they feel fresh and new. Even though the band is filled with members who have been around the block a few times, they embody the energy of a gang of punk rock teenagers who just burst from the garage. However, their age does shows up in quite moving ways. Not only are the songs antiwar and political, but they are also quite emotional, as they address such issues as mortality and ageing. The first album, For the Fallen, is actually quite sad, and the newest release, To the End, contains a devastating, doomy song entitled, “Each Step (One Closer to the Grave).” Karl sings, “Live every moment like it’s your last.” The weight of the words is palatable. As someone nearing 50, who has witnessed his fair share of death in his life, this song hits me on a deep emotional level.
I could listen to Cannibal Corpse’s George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher sing the ingredients on the sides of cereal boxes all day, and I would love every minute of it. However, Memoriam is a softer and gentler death metal that speaks to my everyday life. Make no mistake, they are heavy and doomy, with crushing riffs to spare, but they also reek of humanity. Sometimes, they remind me of the last Dio/Black Sabbath incarnation, Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know, which I still maintain is the greatest metal album ever recorded. Other times, I hear the slower Motorhead tracks in these albums, or the dreariness of the last three, post-Lynne, Alice In Chains albums, albeit, Memoriam is quite a bit heavier.
Memoriam are current, timely, and just what the world needs now. They burst out of darkness obliterating the bullshit. For a band that covers many real and sad subjects, they feel like a breath of fresh air and a new spring. Their albums bristle with the creative energy of a young band. Indeed, it is as if the band takes its own advice and plays each note as if it could be their last.
I guess what I’m trying to say is Memoriam is my new favorite punk band. Listen up youngsters, and pull your heads out of your asses.
