Memorial The Creative Process/Berlin LP (Flightplan)
Release Date: October 7, 2008
Call it post-hardcore, atmospheric rock or even emotional punk if you must, but Richmond, Virginia’s MEMORIAL has created a wholly diametrical album in The Creative Process / Berlin. It is simultaneously earnest and epic, haunting and heavy-hitting, bated and bombastic. However, this debut is not simply about clashing aesthetics; it’s how those pieces work together in harmony.
Massive hooks and towering chords are on full display here while the impassioned vocals follow suit with a grizzled urgency and melancholy delivery that is nonetheless sincere and honest. Right out of the gate, songs like “Who Are We To Say” and “Spades” crest into an inescapable wall of sound – equal parts dissonant guitars, swirling rhythms and soaring melody…and all very heart-jarring and infectious. But carefully peel away Memorial’s many layers and the basic groundwork is built upon an ethereal foundation and a vulnerability that is fragile and undeniably moving. It’s here where the sense of grandeur and bigger-than-life sound eventually gives way to a tender ache that’s painstakingly wrapped in layers of infectious harmonies and the deep burn of personal conflict.
Memorial’s debut was originally scheduled for release as two separate 7-inches by Revelation Records. Not a huge surprise as these eight vibrant songs hearken back to a particularly glorious (and emotive) stretch of albums released by the label in the mid-90′s: Texas Is The Reason, Farside, Gameface, Elliot and Quicksand, to name a few. Similarly, font man Peter Appleby’s trajectory from hardcore progenitors Count Me Out to the highly-acclaimed Renee Heartfelt and now Memorial follows a parallel course laid out by Gorilla Biscuit / Quicksand / Rival Schools’ Walter Schriefels. Nevertheless, The Creative Process / Berlin has undoubtedly carved out it’s own unique niche in that particular world, firmly entrenched as something exciting and new while paying homage to its influences.
Memorial is Peter Appleby (vocals, guitar), Brendan Murphy (guitars), Billy Mutter (bass) and Jared Laine (drums). The Creative Process / Berlin was recorded by Chris Dowhan (Antlers, Black Dahlia Murder, The Agony Scene) at Planet Red Studios in the band’s hometown of Richmond, V.A. There were 500 copies of the record pressed (100 black, 300 white, 100 yellow) and it will be released on October 7th, 2008 by Flightplan Records. Memorial also appeared on a three-way split with Elemae and Soon on Engineer Records earlier this year. For more info go to www.myspace.com/memorialband or www.myspace.com/flightplanrec.
Press Contact: Chuck Daley / Beartrap PR / chuck@beartrappr.com / (704) 649-7128
