ALBUM REVIEW: The Silent Vigil – Memoriam

Exactly a year since the release of their debut record, old school death metallers MEMORIAM have been back in the studio recording their second album, The Silent Vigil. They have teamed up with Nuclear Blast once again for the new record, as they pick up where their last album For The Fallen left off.

The new record begins with Soulless Parasite, with the crushing riffs from guitarist Scott Fairfax prevalent in the intro. The intro itself is relatively long, and gradually more and more elements come into it as the tempo begins to build, followed by the drums of Andrew Whale to maintain the pace. Frontman Karl Willetts really delivers on the vocals, the aggression evident throughout the track, and a very strong way to begin the new record.

The following track is Nothing Remains, which begins at a fairly fast pace, before slowing down and speeding back up again as the track progresses. Again the riffs are crushing, the vocals are powerful and the overall sound is exquisite. While it changes pace throughout, it all flows well and helps to add another dimension to the track.

There are a number of tracks which stand out on this record, and each one has its own different features which help to distinguish between each one. One track that really stands out and captures the whole essence of death metal is As Bridges Burn. It follows a similar recipe to the other tracks mentioned previously, including changes in pace throughout, but from start to finish you know that this is what death metal is all about. It is also one track that really helps to establish the band’s identity; for anyone who has listened to the debut record For The Fallen, the sound is very similar and shows that MEMORIAM have found their own identity.

The Silent Vigil really delivers from start to finish, and the runtime of 50 minutes flies by, but every minute of the nine tracks is incredibly enjoyable. MEMORIAM surpassed even their own expectations when they released their debut record For The Fallen, and it seems fitting that in order to celebrate that the new record comes out exactly one year after their debut.

It’s evident that a lot of work has gone into establishing their own sound in this record and break away from their previous bands; they’ve taken the best parts from the first album and enhanced it in The Silent Vigil, and anyone who is a fan of the band will know that this is distinctly MEMORIAM.

It’s always difficult to follow up such a strong debut record, particularly when a second album is coming out so soon after the first, but The Silent Vigil is another solid effort from MEMORIAM. The topics they mention in this album really relate to each and every one of us, which is what helps to make the album enjoyable, and the overall sound and execution is sublime – all of which gives it the potential to be a contender for 2018’s top 20 albums.

Rating: 8/10

The Silent Vigil is set for release on March 23rd via Nuclear Blast Records.

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