Memento Mori- By Flyleaf

By Deborah Evans Price, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com The brevity of life and man’s mortality are topics that have inspired artists for centuries. They get fresh examination on Flyleaf’s sophomore album Memento Mori, a Latin phrase that means “Be mindful of death.” The songs on the new Octone/A&M album were inspired by a particularly challenging season in the lives of the band members. Guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya’s 22-year-old cousin was battling cancer and lead vocalist Lacey Moseley had a health scare of her own. The band’s drummer, Culpepper, lost both his mother and his aunt. As they began working on the new record with bandmates Jared Hartman (guitar) and Pat Seals (bass), those experiences informed the new music.

“Memento Mori was very fitting from everything we’ve been through over the past seven years,” says Moseley. “It was important to us after everything we’ve seen and gone through as a band that we use our chance to speak about something that we felt might last in someone’s heart.”

Released on November 10, Memento Mori features standout tracks such as the single “Again,” “This Close, “Tiny Heart” and “Set Apart This Dream.” Memento Mori is being marketed to both Christian consumers and mainstream music fans. “It’s not our aim to be in the Christian market specifically because our music is not just for Christians. It’s for everyone,” relays Mosley. “For the first time since we started, we’ve had a lot of doors open for us to play Christian shows. In the beginning we didn’t play any Christian shows. They didn’t understand what we were doing. I don’t think they really ‘got’ our music as Christian music. Even our own church was like, you’re playing in bars?! It’s not that we don’t want to play Christian shows. It’s just that we’re not for one or the other.” When asked if she feels pressure for this album to be as successful as the first, Moseley responds: “No, I don’t think there was pressure on our side as a band. I know that selling a million records could mean that a million kids hear the message, but I think the pressure is all on the people who we work with [on the business side]. If it all ends tomorrow, I would look back and still be just as amazed as ever. My cup is overflowing and I couldn’t be more amazed over what has happened, but we’re not trying to make a record that’s just as good as the last one. We’re just trying to make one that’s honest [about] who we are."

Bryan’s Words

Being a big Flyleaf fan, I have to say well done on all the songs. At first when I popped the CD in I was like “ok this is different.” But as I listened, and listened I was really overwhelmed by the message.

I give Flyleaf a rating of 9.5 out of 10 for this great album if you don’t have it yet. Pick it up from Best Buy where they have an exclusive fan package for $19 bucks and it includes a T-shirt.
Until next time, Rock on!