Flyleaf – Memento Mori
If there was ever a need to prove that loving Jesus rocks, the last couple of months have won that debate tenfold. blessthefall released their album Witness (read our review: HERE) back in September. And now Lacey Mosley and the rest of Flyleaf have released their sophomore album Memento Mori, after four years since their self-titled debut and a couple of digitally released EPs. Granted, Flyleaf isn’t your regular Christian band, taking time during their sets to preach a brief message or praying with the audience before everyone leaves the concert hall. They would rather let their music speak for itself and have the message that they want to give come through that way. Instead of putting God first, they bring him to the studio and ultimately what you get in each of their releases is exactly what you get on a personal level from the band.
Flyleaf’s first single “I’m So Sick” put them on the map when the video hit MTV with the sprite-like Lacey Mosley howling with the likes of, and even better than, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Bert McCracken of The Used. And then there four other singles that hit radio stations and video channels that did really well, such as “All Around Me” and “Fully Alive,” ultimately leading to Flyleaf earning platinum status. Since then, a little movie (and bane of my existence) called Twilight came out along with a soundtrack featuring Paramore’s “Decode.” When that song was released, listeners mistook it for new Flyleaf and went bananas, and that’s when rumors of Memento Mori began.
The album opens with “Beautiful Bride,” a staggering, churning, post-grunge sing-along that also happens to be the second single from Memento Mori. It’s also probably the weakest song on the entire album, but that’s fine and dandy, because “Beautiful Bride” is promptly followed by “Again” the first single. Also, not the strongest work on Memento Mori, however it is indeed superior to the first track, and the album just get’s better from there. “Again,” with it’s AFI-inspired guitar and bass work runs right into “Chasm” and the album is off and running, a song Flyleaf has already taken to perform in concert. What’s definite about Memento Mori is when you hold it against the debut album, the sophomore album feels a little ballad-heavy. Lacey also doesn’t unleash her growling snarl as much, but what she does do is sing her behind off. That’s evident in songs like “Set Apart This Dream” and “Circle.” This isn’t an attempt to be the next Evanescence by a longshot, because Memento Mori is a really good album. Amy Lee can’t even say that about her own work, and if she does, she’s a dirty liar.
Release Date: November 10th, 2009
Order: HERE
Official Website: HERE
Official MySpace Page: HERE
Related Posts You Gotta Read:
- Music Video Monday!
- Saosin – In Search of Solid Ground
- Dead By Sunrise – Out of Ashes
- The Used – Artwork
- Brand New – Daisy
