This promo has nothing peculiar about it, and it looks like the typical debut albums I often get. But the name might sound familiar to those into metal for more than a decade. Although this is a debut, it isn't what you'd call recent. I thought it was a mistake when I read "12 years ago, we started our trip to Gothenburg for the recording of "Tides"". Nope, it wasn't.
Vic Records decided to re-release this sold-out, 1996 debut from Memory Garden, a Swedish heavy/doom metal band (the label released the band's fourth album in 2008, too). I can think of a few good reasons to re-release an album, and I think Vic Records has made the right choice here. I can't compare to the original, nor to other Memory Garden releases, but the remastered "Tides" swept me away at once. The music is so easily graspable it basically boils down to: sit back, relax, and enjoy. The instrumentals are heavily doom-oriented; a bit droning, sluggish, and with tiny progressive hints thrown in. The drumming remains fairly minimalistic, making the snare hits stand out as clear rhythmic guide (for the listener). Even the melodies are nothing spectacular, but suffice because of their compelling, melancholic tone.
And, if the band had opted for deep growling vocals, we would have had a perfectly acceptable doom formation here. Instead, Memory Garden offers us crystal clear clean vocals, thereby injecting more melody and emotion into the whole. If you would've told me this was the band's newest album (instead of its first), I would've believed you on the spot. Quality stuff.
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AUTHOR: Goran
Goran has been an active reviewer for years (since the old Fishcomcollective, to the brand new Corazine - and also for Face Your Underground). He enjoys - besides metal - the creative side of life, be it through music, sports, programming or 3D. You can find him at www.myspace.com/fdemets.