There's no better way to get started with an album, because the first song Unstoppable has a multitude of endearing characteristics: from the effective symphonic background music to the highly melodic, singing riffs to the aggressive vocals, everything fits perfectly here. A driving opener par excellence!
AEPHANEMER combine their inspirations in the tension between Nightwish-like drama, the melody of Children Of Bodom and Ensiferum-like enthusiasm and add a few interesting details of independence. Singer Marion usually grows up in a haphazard way, but for a change she also uses her clear voice from time to time.
The epic list of some songs is excellent for the band and the ideas have time to breathe; lots of first-class guitar melodies, a swab of bombast, violent animating grooves and quiet breaks find their place in the musical puzzle.
The Oathsworn, for instance, goes into this sweeping direction and here we find a broad-speaking introduction, skillful tempo variations with double bass inserts and solid growls. Unexpectedly, however, AEPHANEMER integrate a folk part with melancholic, heroic flair and surprise with this compositional peculiarity in the whole line. The piano motif at the end provides a harmonious finish and allows both thumbs and fists to rocket upwards. After that, great acoustic guitars reminiscent of Suidakra in combination with strings provoke goosebumps in the cosy interlude called Ghosts.
I have to definitely mention the fine touch of the elements' weighting. The symphonic sounds are not omnipresent, the breathing is used at the right moment and the right length, so that pithy hardness and cordial pathos are in perfect proportion to each other.
The title track Memento Mori summarizes all outstanding qualities once again, because here we meet old acquaintances such as revelatory guitar motifs, growled and clear vocals, wonderful keyboard sequences, a thrilling headbang part in the second half of the song and a fulminant complex finale.
An unusual finale is the variable, dynamic instrumental piece Gilgamesh, which gallops along in a good-humored Running Wild style, integrates bombastic strings and, like the entire album, leaves a varied and profound impression.
AEPHANEMER inspire on Memento Mori with their versatile, at any time exciting compositional style and their intuitive feeling for sometimes whipping, then again reserved melody, so that you can choose to either bang your head or to listen in silent adoration!