Listened to this one too. Different opinions here I loved Lotus and Imperial. And one listen in, Memorial seems to confirm the worries I had - the band is a bit stuck in basically one mode. Imperial was quite "streamlined" already, and at the time I noted certain, um, repetitions in song structures and the like, but I found the hooks to be so strong that it didn't matter (yet).
Memorial actually sounds better to me (I wasn't a huge fan of the production on Imperial), but in many cases the songs, riffs, drum patterns and vocal melodies tend to blur. I reserve to change my opinion, though
One thing I surely wasn't expecting is the duet with Elisa on Hollowed. She is an Italian singer and she's fantastic - I just didn't think I'd hear her collaborate with Soen. I wonder how that came to be.
I definitely agree with the band being stuck in a certain sound over the last three releases. Memorial definitely sounds better to my ears though. I think the solos connected more with me emotionally, the hooks were stronger than the last two and the heavier sections were much more appealing.
I’ll go back and listen to the previous two before listening to the latest again, to see if I can better articulate what I liked better (I probably won’t be able to articulate it well though).
I think if I had heard Memorial first, I might feel differently...although I'm not even sure, as I still maintain basically every chorus on Imperial is a winner. Such good melodies, all around. Lotus was kind of the sweet spot between the proggier, more Tool-influenced sound, and the simpler approach of the last couple records. It's not like I expect them to push the envelope with every release...but now it's the third in a row where they keep using these patterns, and the vocal melodies tend to all sound similar.
Like I said, I was noticing these things when Imperial came out...take the songs Deceiver and Dissident (the latter one of my favorites, btw)...how close are those opening riffs/drums? Or Lumerian vs. Opponent (the opener on Lotus). I liked Imperial so much that I gave them a pass, so to speak. But Memorial, no doubt well done and pleasing to the ears, seems to be going down the same road.
I like Soen very much, so I'm sure I'll give this one more chances and enjoy it. I was just hoping a talented bunch like these guys are would surprise me a bit more.