Album Details

• Artist: Del Rey
• Album: Immemoria
• Label: At A Loss
• Year of Release: 2010
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2010-09-20

Music for those "Rocky" type moments of resolve, Del Rey delivers epics of driving force without the pretension that is usually tempting in such melodies. "Immortal" has bite along with its dramatic flourishes, and it is that power that propels this gem.

"Return of the Son of Fog Rider" clocks in at eleven minutes plus, but there are few wasted notes. The main theme, while martial, also rocks, and the tension built mid-way through to the end is genuine and passionate.

The Eastern-tinged "E Pluribus Unicorn" employs noise and frenzied guitar to the progg-y mix, and has its hypnotic moments, especially during the more quiet sections. With sidetracks into short but effective forays into Drone ("Innumeracy") and ambient ("Ouisch"), the highlights are two long tracks, "Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars" and "These Children That Come At You With Knives," both of which feature solid drumming and guitars that alternate between the sublime and gritty. The closer, "Ancestral," has a meditative, almost medieval melody, ensuring that the set dances out on a peaceful note.

"Immemorial" shows Del Rey in a reflective but not idle mode. The band uses volume and intricate melodies to create evocative instrumental tunes that linger in the memory.

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