Year : 2021
Style : Heavy Metal , Doom Metal
Country: Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 110 mb
Bio:
Memory Garden is a doom metal and heavy metal band from Kumla, Sweden. They were signed to Metal Blade Records until 2002, moved to Vic Records in 2006 and in 2012 returned to metal Blade to record Doomain (2013).The band was formed in December 1992, got signed by the small Swedish label Heathendoom Music, and released Forever EP (1995) and debut full-length Tides (1996), both recorded at Fredman Studios by producer Fredrik Norman. In 1996, joined by guitarist Simon Johansson (ex-Fifth Reason, Abstract Algebra) they were signed by Metal Blade Records and in 1998 released Verdict of Posterity, recorded at the XTC Studios with producer Mike Wead (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate and others).Following the Scandinavian tour and the appearance at the Wacken Open Air in summer of 1999, Memory Garden in February 2000 recorded Mirage (again with Wead) and supported the album by a host of European shows. Having left Metal Blade in 2002, they remained in touch with Wead who helped them record Carnage Carnival, released in 2008 through Vic Records. The release was followed by numerous festivals around Europe.In September 2007 bassist Ken Johansson had to quit because of lack of time. The band then found a replacement in young Johan Fredriksson. In late October 2008, shortly after the release of Carnage Carnival, longtime rhythm guitarist and main lyricist Anders Looström left the band because of "personal priorities." Ante Mäkelä was recruited to replace Looström.In June 2011 Memory Garden started working upon their fifth album in their Kumla studio. Mixed by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios, Doomain was released in 2013 via Metal Blade Records, to generally positive reviews.The band is said to have taken their name from the Trouble song "Memory's Garden".
Album:
For history buffs the year 1349 stands out significantly. It was in that fatal year that the bubonic plague spread like wildfire all over Europe. More commonly known to us as The Black Death or The Great Mortality, it was a tragic and harrowing time in Medieval history. Emerging with its first definitive appearance in the Crimea in 1347, it soon swept across Europe as millions succumbed to its deadly buboes. It is roughly approximated that 30% of Europe’s population at the time was wiped out. It was indiscriminate, claiming everyone from serfs all the way up to royalty. This traumatic period of history is the inspiration behind Sweden’s MEMORY GARDEN‘s new concept album, 1349, which explores the fact and fiction surrounding this historical pandemic. With soaring melodies, driving rhythms and sinister riffs, the band capture the paralysing fear and anxiety surrounding The Black Death.The overall tone of the album is one of sorrow, and the lyrics make for poignant listening as Stefan Berglund‘s powerful voice echoes through the images of the empty, cobbled streets of medieval Europe conjured up in your imagination. It could be argued that the band have taken on the roles of the terrifying, long beaked plague doctors. They lament the loss of so much human life whilst walking through the dirty, diseased alleyways and buildings of medieval cities. The imagery is very vivid throughout the album; as the songs transition between each other you become immersed in this apocalyptic landscape, imbued with a sense of hopelessness and eternal torment.Given the time period it is also impossible to ignore the religious overtones. The Flagellants is the most direct example of this – these religious zealots sought atonement for their multitude of sins by vigorously whipping themselves in public displays of brutal penance. This extreme religious fervour and self-mortification was a popular approach to achieving redemption during this period. The song mixes a marching type rhythm with sombre melodies that make you feel like you are marching beside these people in an attempt to stop The Black Death.Throughout the album, MEMORY GARDEN utilise some OPETH–style transitions, moving between epic, powerful doom riffs and more ethereal sections. With layered vocal harmonies weaving their way through the songs to give the album a grotesquely grandiose apocalyptic vibe, the band have truly captured the harrowing and haunting nature of their subject matter. The biblical choruses of Shallow Waters make it clear that 1349 is going to take you down a grave and traumatic path as it recounts the story of how the plague came to Europe. Distrust feels like a multi-layered song, as it explores not only the religious distrust in God but also those of their neighbours. The dark choral elements give the song an intense and claustrophobic feel, to exacerbate this feeling of distrust amongst everyone. Rivers Run Black paints a bleak future for the people of Europe, with a slow trudging rhythm and deep melody that fills you with misery and gloom. The emotional piano passage accompanied by the soaring and sorrowful lead guitar melodies in Blood Moon consolidates the album in a final stirring movement as you realise that it would take 200 years for Europe’s population to recover from The Black Death.From its initial concept to its execution, MEMORY GARDEN have crafted a heartbreaking and gut-wrenching album that sheds new light on how we perceive The Black Death. Musically, it feels more like an orchestral suite, its various movements and melodies are unique, as they work brilliantly individually but are superior as a collective piece. Either way, 1349 leaves an indelible mark on your soul. The solemn and reflective undertones are what will make this album resonate with people, as we can draw parallels with our experiences throughout the past couple of years. Reading between the lines of 1349, MEMORY GARDEN have indirectly given a contemporary account of our own confusion, frustration and fear throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 1349 is a powerful and moving album, capturing the raw emotions perfectly, bringing them to life through powerful, graceful and elegant song-writing.
Line-Up:
Stefan Berglund - Vocals, backing vocals - See also: ex-Evil Conspiracy
Simon Johansson - Lead guitar - See also: Wolf, Soilwork (live), Bibleblack, ex-Dion Fortune, ex-Fifth Reason, Nu Jävlar!, ex-Satariel, ex-Steel Attack, ex-Abstrakt Algebra, ex-Crystal Caravan, ex-Firegod
Johan Wangdahl - Bass, backing vocals
Andreas Makela - Rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Tom Bjorn - Drums, piano, backing vocals - See also: Nightingale, ex-Memento Mori, ex-Mordoroth
Tracklist:
01. Shallow Waters (04:35)
02. Pariah (06:07)
03. Distrust (06:30)
04. Rivers Run Black (07:47)
05. The Flagellants (05:36)
06. The Messenger (04:22)
07. The Empiric (04:55)
08. 1349 (04:57)
09. Blood Moon (06:38)
10. Unrestrained (06:45) (Bonus Track)
11. Heart of the Dark (Demo 1993) (04:43) (Bonus Track)
12. Legions of the Lost (Demo 1993) (05:02) (Bonus Track)
13. Up from the Ashes (Demo 1993) (02:50) (Bonus Track)
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