In a time where “death metal” can describe anything from Avenged Sevenfold to August Burns Red, Memoriam’s “For the Fallen” serves as the perfect reminder of the genre’s roots and what ultimately distinguishes it.

A worldwide phenomenon

Death metal has become synonymous with speed, aggression and evil, which has earned it plenty of unsavory media coverage since its inception during the ‘90s. Despite these run-ins with distractors, the genre has proliferated and developed into a worldwide phenomenon with a myriad of sub-genres and movements.

Canadian company Banger Films actually takes advantage of this on their YouTube channel with a series called Locked Horns, in which co-owner Sam Dunn debates relevant guests from various genres. In the death metal episode, the now-defunct Bolt Thrower was curiously left out of the picture. While less successful than others, their approach gave rise to many bands with detuned, gnarly riffs and gruff, non-melodic vocals. In fact, Karl Willetts, the former vocalist of Bolt Thrower, helped form Memoriam in honor of his late ex-band mate Martin Kearns. If the heart behind the band centered around showing respect to pure, unadulterated death metal, “For the Fallen” could not do a better job.

Headbanging riffs, punchy drum tubs, thick guitar tone and uncomplicated execution win the day for this record. Coming from various corners of the genre’s evolution, these guys know what this music needs — and bring it in spades. “Memoriam” lives up to sharing its name with the band by showing listeners some of the true roots of death metal based in straight ahead groove, something outsiders might not even know practitioners venture into. Indeed, the majority of these focus on fleshy riffs instead of dazzling technicality and melodramatic anti-authoritarianism.

Adrenaline-surging

Tracks like “War Rages On,” “Corrupted System” and “Resistance” hold up the faster end of the spectrum, with propulsive double-kick drumming and rumbling bass lines harkening back to a time when playing blast beats at 300 beats-per-minute had not become the benchmark and ‘80s-inspired pit anthems win the day. The sense of dread pervades in slower tracks pales before mosh riffs and adrenaline-surging rhythm.

“War Wages On” leans towards old-school thrash metal guitars and drums with Motörhead-esque delivery, while “Corrupted System’s” d-beat feel and stampeding cadences bring early Celtic Frost to mind. “Resistance” splits its feel down the middle between lurching heaviness and jackhammer aggression, which keeps it from becoming forgettable. However, Memoriam’s strength actually comes from how they scale things back.

“Reduced to Zero” uses quarter note triplets to a colossal effect, milking chugs and squeals for all of their savage emotion, expertly injecting tremolo-picked eeriness and single-note leads for yet another awesome track. Karl Willetts’ voice, while remaining largely unchanged throughout the record, provides a cave troll’s broodings and battle cries while remaining tastefully in the background. “Flatline” shows how the band can provide plenty of tempo changes while still remain behind the beat. Memoriam has no need for spearheading their songs, cracking them with muck instead.

Competition destroyed

The album does nothing to rewrite the death metal hand book, but no bad tracks exist on it. Even “Surrounded (By Death),” which most bands would treat as a throwaway track, brings expertly synced bass drum and tremolo picking and dumbfounding pinch harmonics with a trashy interlude to top it off. Every track focuses on bare essentials, resulting in better songs and respect for the genre.

The appropriately-titled “Last Words” closes the album with an almost-nine-minute excursion, utilizing their unmatched riff-writing to draw from all of the aforementioned feels. Held together by a simply compelling lead, the track uses hypnotic heaviness to its advantage — inserting hellish war-time ambience into the track to a haunting effect. The abrupt ending leaves one to consider the reality of death and the consequences of mortality. For those wanting new bands adhering to the foundations and mentality behind death metal, Memoriam destroys competition.