MEMORY GARDEN |
| Memory Garden
are : Anders Looström - Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals Tom Björn - Drums & Piano, Backing Vocals Ken Johansson - Bass Guitar Simon Johansson - Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals Stefan Berglund - Vocals Guest Musicians : Kristian Andrén - Harmony Vocals Mike Wead - Guitar solo on 'Shadow Season' Beppe Danielsson - Narration on 'Amen' The tracks are : 1. Carved In Stone (6:09) 2. Awkward Tale (4:25) 3. Shadow Season (6:09) 4. Tragic Kingdom (5:35) 5. The Sum Of All Fear (5:18) 6. Split Image (6:01) 7. Outward Passage (4:33) 8. Wasteland Foretold (6:04) 9. Amen (9:46) Memory Garden were formed way back in December 1992 in Kumla, Sweden and after recording some Demo's, the band signed a deal with Heathendoom Records where they released a mini CD 'Forever' in 1995. One year later the band released there highly acclaimed debut album 'Tides' on the same label. Memory Garden continued to gain excellent press worldwide and it wasn't long before they were snapped up bu Metal Blade. 'Verdict Of Posperity' is the 2nd full lenghth album from the highly acclaimed powerdoom outfit, and probably the best way to describe their overall sound would be a mix of early Candlemass and Morgana Lefay, with great guitar melodies, catchy hooks and the mournful vocals of Stefan Berglund. Memory Garden paint a very blackened, but highly accesable picture that should appeal to a wide range of metal fans. 'Verdict Of Posperity 'is an album of true epic proportions with both guitarists Anders and Simon producing some real gut wrenching riffs in typical doom style, while the rhythm produced by both bassist Ken and drummer Tom are of the type that you simply can't resist tapping your foot or nodding your head to, and the vocal performance of Stefan is amongst the finest that I have heard in a long time. Deep, dark, but with enough flexibility to give the songs real atmosphere, probably the best example of this, is the excellent 'Carved In Stone'. But as I hinted at earlier it's the bands flexibility that will appeal to most of you. Just listen to 'Awkward Tale', powerful vocals, dead heavy riffs and an almost continuous driving rhythm that instantly puts you in mind of Black Sabbath around the Dio/Martin period. The final track 'Amen' for me stands head and shoulders above the rest, lasting just over 9 minutes, 'Amen' is a song of true epic proportions with excellent vocals and piano work, moulded around some wonderful effects, the song is full of atmosphere and is an ideal way to end proceedings. 'Verdict Of Posperity' is without doubt a top quality release that should fit nicely inyto your collection, and with a full scale tour planned for the first quater of '99 the future looks bright indeed for this Swedish outfit. You can contact the band at : Memory Garden c/o Johansson, Solhemsgatan 10a, S-692 33 kumla, Sweden. memory.garden@2.sbbs.se Released by Metal Blade Records GmbH, P.O. Box 1332, 73054 Eislingen, Germany. Metal Blade Records Inc, 2828 Cochran St. Suite 302, Simi Valley, CA 93065-2793, USA Website : http://metalblade.iuma.com/ Email : mtlbldrcds@aol.com |