Flyleaf, 'Memento Mori'

Faith-based rockers bring out the dead

By Scott Thill

Special to Metromix

Release date: November 10, 2009
Record label: A&M/Octone
Official Web site: http://flyleafmusic.com/

The buzz: After their self-titled 2005 debut made noise, this Texas-based crew of Christian alt-rockers nabbed spotlights from Yahoo, MTV and more. Tours with bands like Breaking Benjamin, Stone Sour and others followed, as well as buzz for this sophomore try, which replicates Flyleaf's mash of pop and metal with predictable but skillful results. Who's up for a conversion?

The verdict: Unlike California's less didactic standout Starflyer 59, Flyleaf's crunchy merge of theology and tragedy is an acquired taste. For the faithful, open solicitations for Jesus show up in anthemic headbangers like "Beautiful Bride," "This Close" and...well, the entire album is pretty much shot through with vocalist Lacey Mosley's pious exhortation. For the unbelievers, guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann, as well as bassist Pat Seals and drummer James Culpepper, manufacture fine riffage on spine-shakers like "In the Dark," "Again" and "Chasm," all of which host tasty sonic aftershocks.  

Did you know? Flyleaf's single "I'm So Sick" has appeared in "Rock Band" and the film "Live Free or Die Hard," while a remix made the soundtrack to the movie "Resident Evil: Extinction."