With the release of their sophomore album, cross-over band, Flyleaf joins the ranks of other female-led bands such as Paramore and Evanescence. With its edgy sound and convicting lyrics, their new project, Memento Mori, earns the band much deserved recognition.
The success of their first self-titled album has made Memento Mori an anxiously anticipated release for fans. After such a long wait, I was beginning to wonder if they would even complete a second album. Thankfully, I have been proven wrong.
With so much hype, Memento Mori has big shoes to fill. Not only have fans been waiting over four years, they are sure to compare it to the band’s first album.
After listening to the CD in its entirety, I was initially disapointed. Some of the songs were repetitive and difficult to distinguish. However, this was also my reaction to their first album, which is now one of my absolute favorites. After considering this, I resolved to keep listening and give the music time to grow on me; it certainly did.
Flyleaf’s lead singer, Lacey Mosley, opens the album with by belting “Beautiful Bride,” an upbeat track with lyrics that depict the church as Christ’s bride: “beautiful bride/ body of Christ/ one flesh abiding/ strong and unifying.” This song was the first to catch my attention, however, I became tired of it soon after, depleting its value in my eyes.
While the project’s lyrics hold a lot of meaning, “The Kind” stands out above the rest; the grittiness of the lyrics suit Mosley’s haunting voice perfectly, “As you sin with [your right arm] you wanna cut it off, but instead you thank God for all of the wrong you do.”
After the second chorus the story becomes a tale of redemption: “You cut the cord today with God’s hand to hold yours steady/ He waits for you to apply the pressure, the warmth of his breath wrapped in his words.” The song comes to an end with a dramatic apology that left me with goosebumps. Flyleaf’s lyrical honesty has become one of my favorite aspects of the band.
Memento Mori, a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die,” suits the album’s theme perfectly. Almost all of the lyrics urge the listener to live a better life, implying that it will one day come to an end. The darkness that covers the whole project hints at the consequences of living any other way.
Not only does the album title apply to lyrics, but sound as well. Loud guitars and slightly screechy vocals make up most of Flyleaf’s music. With more edge than Paramore, but not as much screaming as Underoath, Flyleaf is the best of both worlds.
As in any album, some of the songs on Memento Mori are more dynamic than others. While there were no real “duds,” some of the songs are more attention-grabbing. Despite having a few underwhelming songs Memento Mori is an overall great album. I would recommend it to anyone interested in edgy and honest music.
For more information, check out Flyleaf’s Web site.
