Out of Munich, Germany is this little-known band going by the name of Amplified Memory, formed in the summer of 2008. This is their first release “The Ever Spinning Wheel”.
The opening track “The Inception” sounds like the start of an epic battle scene for a war movie with the use of haunting atmospherics and synthesizers.
For a self-released album, I am struck by the sound quality, production, and overall musicianship on show here, clocking in at 57 minutes and 12 tracks. The feel of the album is like a heavy adventure style of music, not far off if I’d say a movie soundtrack. Track 3 “Heteronomous” is a standout with spine snapping ferocity, snarling low-end vocals.
Track 6 “Inscrutable Stones” has some interesting time signatures and the use of keyboards. Track 10 “Hollowed” is unstoppable in pace, energy lead and rhythm guitars to really be given the opportunity to flourish.
Track 11 “Ladon’s Dream” takes its foot off the accelerator at the start of the track and then breaks into an instrumental piece, reminiscent of fellow death heads Dimmu Borgir.
The lyrical theme of this album is an interesting mix of subjects like chaos, space, and dreams which to this point I have not come across from many other bands going under the Melodic/Death metal banner. It’s also worth mentioning that current drummer Tim Braun comes into the fold of another fellow German Thrash band Toxic Waltz – also worth checking out.
I know that in a lot of my previous reviews I said the following: “This album can’t be pigeon-holed” but this is true to a certain extent, taking parts from old school black metal – a dash of medieval vibe, a dash of death metal and a pinch of keyboards. Throw it into a pot stir and you have “Amplified Memory”. My favorite track on the album is the title track. I think this one in particular would go over very well live. Overall a good first effort! This album may not appeal to every heavy metal enthusiast by a long shot but if your looking for something a little off-wall Melodic/Death Metal wise then this may be for you?
Amplified Memory: Facebook
Release Year: 2013
Label: self-released
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Steve Monaghan
