Friday 16 March 2012

Memory of a Melody - Thing's That Make You Scream - Review

Things That Make You Scream is the somewhat provocative title of the Texas band Memory of a Melody (MOAM). The band formed in 2008, but burst on the metal scene at the end of last year with this first full-length album.

MOAM encompasses the gap between mainstream and underground with their catchy lyrics and riffs but the roots of the band are still undoubtedly metal.
If you like bands like either Breaking Benjamin, Avenged Sevenfold or Trivium (or any other bands of the metalcore genre) then MOAM will be up your street.

MOAM’s brand of metal is the type of metal I like. I do not favour metal bands that have songs that are filled with screaming vocals, screechy guitar riffs and overdone drum beats. I prefer my metal with a side of lyrics you can recognise as I feel it brings depth to the songs and music that does not sound almost identical on each track.

The pounding beats on "Pieces" remind of Slipknot and at times lead singer Mario Galdos’ vocals remind of Corey Taylor's on this track. Galdos' vocal style varies on the album and it shows that his voice is adaptable to different styles of rock which again reminds me of Corey Taylor in the sense that his vocals can vary from loud shouting to a more soothing softer variety of rock. It's perfect for the metalcore genre, which typically involves screaming vocals but with the mix of clean vocals.



The track that stands out the most to me on the album is the title track and listening to the song, it is clear why this song was picked to be the lead single. As the title would suggest that song does contain a fair amount of screaming vocals but mixed well with a catchy chorus and spoken vocals to create a sense of intensity.

"Break Away" is probably the track that sways towards the mainstream more than the other tracks with no screaming vocals, apart from at the end of the song, but a catchy chorus of angst-fueled lyrics. It is a track to throw your arms in the air, dance to, and just let go.
The album would not be complete without a good ballad and this comes in the form of "Skin Deep", a passionate song which like most ballads is built on guitar and piano. This song maybe a little bit cliché but remains a good song.

"Truth in Lies" is a purely instrumental track and is in my opinion one of the best tracks on the album. It really showcases the bands musical talent and even without lyrics the song still speaks. The track starts of soft and gradually builds a sense of urgency through the quickening of tempo of the guitars, harmonised guitar riffs, drop guitar tunings and the gradual prominence of the drums. It is the last track on the album and is a stylish way to end the album off. It gives the album a proper conclusion.

The album is very versatile and if you don't enjoy sticking rigidly to one style of metal you will enjoy this album very much. It has a track for every mood and you will enjoy at least a handful of tracks even if you don't enjoy the complete work.

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