ALBUM REVIEW: To The End – Memoriam

There was a time where the collective shadows of MEMORIAM’s member’s past acts loomed above them, it’s to be expected coming from some of the most influential names in British death metal like BENEDICTION, MASSACRE, and the mighty BOLT THROWER. Now having delivered their bleak blend of war-themed death metal for three previous albums – For the Fallen, The Silent Vigil and Requiem For Mankind – their fourth To The End sets out to prove that MEMORIAM is a battalion with its own victories. 

“Onwards into battle, one more time!” bellows vocalist Karl Willets as thunderous guitars let slip the dogs of war. The low crushing riffs of opener Onwards Into Battle steamrolls over you like a panzer over the rubble. Drums feel almost diegetic to the chaotic war scene is the lyrics paint, small high symbols sound like the rattling of bullet cases hitting cold grey concrete whilst low rumblings sounds like distant artillery. It’s slow for MEMORIAM but it doesn’t set the pace for To The End which is MEMORIAM’s most varied album so far.

This is proved when the fastest song of the band’s career This War Is Won comes thundering in straight after. The riffs drop on a dime and turn from slow and methodical into a blurry thrash inspired chaos as Willets barks lyrics of victory and triumph. To contrast that the album also features MEMORIAM’s slowest song so far, quite possibly the slowest in any of the band member’s careers. Each Step (Closer To The Grave) is sluggish, methodical and dripping in doom, it feels like a scene where soldiers are trudging through endless mud as the lyrics speak of a slow approach to death. It highlights just how versatile and creative the band can be still when the majority of the members are 30-year veterans of death metal. 

To The End also sees MEMORIAM release protest song Failure To Comply inspired by the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year. The slightly higher guitars give the track a punk edge fitting perfectly with the lyrics which are a celebration of our human right to protest, and the track fittingly released in a month where the UK government is trying to take that right away. Towards the end of the track melodeath leads build as Willets screams “How many more must die?”. It’s the most powerful moment on the record and refreshing to hear a death metal band be so unflinching when the genre is rife with a-political attitude. 

Whilst some tracks are by the numbers MEMORIAM songs, there are plenty of risks and curveballs on To The End. More fresh-faced acts have stumbled around the fourth album hurdle, stagnating and becoming predictable. Not these guys though, and this is even more impressive when you take the members collective legacy into account. Legacies that MEMORIAM is quickly becoming a bright highlight of. 

Rating: 8/10

To The End is set for release March 26th via Reaper Entertainment Europe. 

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