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It’s kind of hard to believe Flyleaf is only on its
second album. It seems like they have been around forever,
a side effect of spending three and a half years on the road
supporting their debut, which was released in 2005. That appears
to have been time well spent, as on their sophomore effort,
Memento Mori, greater songwriting maturity and improved
musicianship shine through.
Nothing here is as heavy as “I’m So Sick”
from the first album, but Memento Mori, especially
its first half, feels like it rocks a little more overall.
The band—guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hatmann,
bassist Pat Seals and drummer James Culpepper, to go along
with singer Lacey—finds grooving rhythms on songs like
“Beautiful Bride” and “Chasm.” These
tunes will get you moving and even set a few heads banging.
At the same time, the band brings out a poppier side on songs
like “Set Apart This Dream” and “Tiny Heart.”
They walk a fine line, never veering too far in either direction.
The remarkable aspect of the album is that even though it
was written over a long period of time (much of it while on
tour), there is a real continuity from song to song, a flow
that allows it to play nicely as one piece. Much credit must
go to Lacey, who as the lyricist is consistent in both tone
and message. The members of Flyleaf have not hidden the fact
that they are all Christians and their faith plays a large
role in everything they do, including making music. But I
see the themes of Memento Mori as universal. Lacey
sings of facing adversity and not just overcoming but drawing
strength from it. Hers is a message of hope and empowerment,
and the passion pouring forth from her and her bandmates is
almost palpable. With so much negativity in the world, you
can’t help but be uplifted and inspired by her final
words of the album: “Arise and be all that you dreamed.”
®2010 Live-Metal.net
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