Album Review: Memoriam - The Silent Vigil

We wish we could tell you that Memoriam represent the mid-paced genius of Bolt Thrower reincarnated.

Unfortunately, on their second full-length Memoriam never go beyond middling. They lack the charm of a band like Hail Of Bullets and simply don't boast the unrestrained brutality of Asphyx, let alone the memorable tunes of the mighty Bolt Thrower.

That's not to say this is a bad album, it's a definite improvement on For The Fallen, but it's just somewhat, well, restrained. Even the mighty Karl Willetts at times sounds like he's going through the motions on what is ultimately a meat-and-potatoes death-metal release.