OK, so I have had this record sitting on my desk and in my ipod for ages now, but for some reason I simply couldn’t bring my self to review it because I honestly couldn’t come up with a simple description of the style. That is until I read a review of The Wind Up by my good friend Andrew over at the excellent aversionline.com blog (which I highly recommend for well writen expert opinons of hardcore) who simply put it as Opeth meets Burst-Eureka! (Thanks Andrew!).

Originally released on Dental Records in 2006, The Wind Up is the first album from Sweden’s Memfis and is one of those slightly ill fitting bands on Candlelight’s roster (Benea Reach, Hevein, She Said Destroy, Trendkill), but is actually better than any of those bands.

If the Opeth meets Burst comparison doesn’t give you some clue, what we have here is a sort of modern rock, post rock, prog metal with a slight death metal lean. On paper it might not sound that appealing, but in the same way Spain’s Nahemah pulled it off, Memfis pull if of with a typically Swedish confidence and professionalism.

When Memfis do head into one of their many Opeth-ian moments (vocally and musically) such as the obvious “Breathless”, “Eternal Failure”, “Forever Discounted” or “Cover it Up”, the influence is glaring, but when intertwined around shimmering, ebbing post rock hues mixed with angular modern hardcore (“The Wind Up”, ‘The Judgement”, “Dead Ends”, “The Game”, “Stop These Waves”, “Breed the Disorder”), it’s a little less enthralling and sounds like basically Akerfeldt and co. trying modern post rock.

Still, if anything, The Wind Up is an interesting release, though I’m not sure who the audience is. It’s technically proficient and at times a pretty damn good Opeth clone, but the modern sheen is a bit distracting. Definitely a try before you buy release.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments