Flyleaf - Memento Mori Review

Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 11.14.2009

Four years on from its debut, Flyleaf return with more of the same in the form of Memento Mori.



Flyleaf - Memento Mori
Review by Daniel Wilcox

Lacey Mosley – vocals
Sameer Bhattacharya – lead guitar
Jared Hartmann – rhythm guitar
Pat Seals – bass
James Culpepper - drums

Track listing:
1. Beautiful Bride
2. Again
3. Chasm
4. Missing
5. This Close
6. The Kind
7. In the Dark
8. Set Apart This Dream
9. Swept Away
10. Tiny Heart
11. Melting (Interlude)
12. Treasure
13. Circle
14. Arise

Despite having only released one previous album, their self-titled effort in 2005, Flyleaf is a band that has seemingly been around for a long time. And that’s actually because they have, having formed in 2003. In a day and age when music is churned out thick and fast, Flyleaf has taken its time to put out records, touring behind them relentlessly and theoretically, ensuring that their fans get the absolute best that they have to offer. A lot of these tracks have been around for a long time but have been reworked to make them as good as they can be, and to an extent I think that’s very much reflected.

The album’s title is derived from a Latin phrase meaning, “be wary of death.” Now when bands pick titles such as these for their work, I expect the songs and lyrics to reflect this theme, otherwise it just comes across as pretentious and false. Well the music predominantly has that signature Flyleaf vibe of darkness and despair’s lingering presence despite some uplifting numbers, so that sort of fits, and lyrically there’s discussions of internal struggles and strife, with blatant influences from the band’s Christian faith.

The album’s greatest strength is its chunky and often thunderous riffs. “This Close” opens with a spellbinding one, and most other tracks are driven forward by their melancholy guitar work. “Beautiful Bride” reflects this perfectly. That said however, this album has less of an aggressive feel than its predecessor, and features a far poppier undercurrent of tumultuous hooks and melodies. This obviously emphasizes their impressive choruses and, perhaps as a result of following the Paramore model, this makes the vocals stand out that much more.

Lacey Mosley does waver slightly from time to time, but what she lacks in technical prowess she more than makes up for in her uniqueness and quirky vocal styling. Tracks such as “The Kind” show off what a powerful voice she possesses, while “In the Dark” sees Mosley’s voice take on a haunting ambiance that is far more memorable than anything else about that particular song. There’s some pretty good song-writing going on too, and lyrically this album is a step up from Flyleaf. This is why fans don’t mind waiting four years for a follow up.

While there is less angst behind this record, some of the harder moments are still the best. Take the pounding outro of “The Kind,” for instance. It’ll have you fist-pumping and head-banging simultaneously, while “Swept Away” features rampant drumming and marvelous riffs to carry that vibe over before Mosley’s intricate vocal brings the track back down to a sense of tranquility on the verse.

There’s a fairly persuasive argument that without a female vocalist, this band would never have been signed and I think that this album, which exceeds my own personal expectations, should go some way in making people think twice about that assessment. If nothing else it shows that, as well as having a very prominent and talented vocalist, this is a band that has the ability to write some very creative and catchy songs. Memento Mori just very slightly tweaks the formula used on the band’s debut and the result is a more polished, perhaps more pop-oriented sophomore record that should easily satisfy the band’s fans and perhaps earn some new ones too.

Essential downloads: “Beautiful Bride,” “Chasm,” “This Close,” “The Kind,” In the Dark,” “Swept Away” and “Treasure.”

The 411: Sophomore slump avoided successfully, but more than that, Flyleaf's Memento Mori is an accomplished record combining gritty elements of alternative rock and inspired pop choruses, bound together with a very tight vocal performances that rarely falters. It may not be new, original, or even cool, but it's a fun record that is honest and sincere. Despite its fourteen tracks, it never outstays its welcome, and ultimately just leaves fans hoping it won't be another four year wait before album number three.

Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]