Would you like to know what’s one of my favorite aspects of metal? It’s that it’s too goddam stubborn to ever go away. As long as there is breath in a metalhead’s lungs they’re going to find ways to tune lower or crank in even more blast beats into a song. As To The End (Reaper Entertainment) roared from my car’s stereo is when I realized that Memoriam is Karl Willets’ latest musical endeavor despite already having a hall of fame run with Bolt Thrower. Bless that man. 

This isn’t a novel phenomenon as for years now we’ve had legendary Thrash Metal acts find new gears and release some of the best work later in their careers. Anthrax, Sepultura, Testament, Sacred Reich are out here still breaking new ground even though they could easily rest on their laurels and lengthy catalogs. While it doesn’t get enough attention from the press, some of Death Metal’s most esteemed veterans are also diligently turning back time. Cannibal Corpse is on the verge of another album and if you’ve heard ‘Inhumane Harvest’ it promises to be a banger. Good luck finding flaws on Surgical Steel or Despicable from Carcass. Napalm Death’s Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism? More like a modern classic. And that’s without mentioning At the Gates, Obituary, or Bloodbath’s recent output. 

So, am I saying that we must put some of that respect on Memoriam’s name? Absolutely. Think I’m exaggerating? Why don’t you give ‘No Effect’ ‘Failure to Comply’ a test drive and then tell me what you think? And even though some of the members of Memoriam have toiled for years in acts like Bolt Thrower and Massacre, the crisp production and concise songcraft suggest that this is a young hungry act looking to earn its spot at the table. The mix is free of any studio gimmicks and the playing – like Spiky T. Smith’s marathon drum session on ‘As My Heart Grows Cold – is air-tight. They’re not playing the death metal standards either as there’s a mighty Doom vibe on ‘Each Step (One Closer to the Grave)’ and summon Godflesh on ‘Mass Psychosis.’ 

Heavy music was here before I was born, and it intends to be around for long after I die. 

Buy the album here: : http://www.reapermusic.de/memoriam-end

8 / 10

HANS LOPEZ