Memfis – The Wind Up

[genocide roach]

Memfis – The Wind Up
Candlelight – CDL357 – July 17, 2007
By Ryan Starr



So, when did Mastodon move to Sweden? Just kidding, but not really. There is some serious Mastodon worship here, but not in a bad way. While the similarities are obvious, they take melody and brutality to the extreme, which makes Memfis much more versatile. There is a bit of an Opeth style in the melodic parts, but simplified, which provides a nice break from the technical onslaught found throughout every song. Some of the solo work also sounds a lot like Åkerfeldt style shredding.

On the other end of the spectrum, Memfis flirt with grindcore a bit, giving us schizophrenic time changes, abstract lead work, and unsettling dissonance, which is showcased on the first track 'Breathless'.

Its all about tasteful variety, there isn’t too much of any one element on this album, and that’s what makes it great. Sure there are similarities to other bands, but the way they take it and make it their own is fantastic. It’s familiar enough for people to latch on to it immediately, but different enough to be set apart from their influences. If Memfis were looking for a way to break into the international metal scene, they succeeded with this album. I think it's pretty clear we can expect great things in the future from these guys.

Official Memfis Website
Official Candlelight Website