Armor for Sleep had a stranglehold on the emo scene back in the mid-00s, at least for me they had their hands firmly around my throat. What to Do When You Are Dead was an on-repeat album and still a go-to when I want to hear classics such as Car Underwater and The Truth About Heaven. While here in the UK, I wouldn’t say they made a huge impact – I remember seeing them play at The Charlotte in Leicester, a tiny, tiny venue that wasn’t even at capacity when they hit the stage. Granted, I went to that show mostly for Chiodos, but I still consider myself lucky to see them at such an intimate venue back in the day.
Anyway, Armor for Sleep are back with a new album, There Is No Memory, a follow-up to their last release, The Rain Museum, which was released in 2022, 15 years after their last album, Smile for Them. And honestly, I don’t really recall hearing much of that release. I think I gave it a spin a few times, but it didn’t really keep me hooked – maybe because I was spending too much time re-listening to Finch’s What It Is To Burn repeatedly, thanks to Spotify’s algorithm constantly shoving that in my face.
So what can you expect from There Is No Memory? Interestingly, I think it falls in a similar spot for me as Silverstein’s recent-ish comeback. Though it has some remnants of mid-00s Armor for Sleep it largely features a more Octaincore sound that we’re hearing from a lot of bands that are having a second wind. Silverstein being one example, and Underoath being another. It’s not necessarily bad, but it lacks any uniqueness that makes the band stand out from its peers. This comparison makes sense when you find out that it was recorded with Sam Guaiana, who also recorded with Silverstein.
It’s a big-sounding album with elements of electronic thrown in here and there. It’s post-hardcore with a splash of metalcore and industrial thrown in. It’s this formula that’s been present in heavier bands for a good few years now, and admittedly, it’s becoming a little exhausting. Furthermore, it’s never really a question of “well, if it’s the same, is it at least done well?” when modern production does away with any flaws that made bands unique.
One thing that’s present throughout the album and is immediate from the opening track, The Outer Ring, is just how big these songs are. Guaiana does a great job of bringing such a massive sound out of a band that, in the past, could be quite gentle. When listening to songs like Kind of Perfect, you’re unsure if you’re listening to the same band. Fortunately, the follow-up track Breathe Again offers some familiarity and is the song on the album that’s the most similar to the band’s early works.
The production here isn’t bad, by any means. Guaiana is a great producer, but I personally feel like this polished, modern production has hit its peak, and I’m not sure if there’s any way back from here. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, you be the judge. I definitely think there’s a place for it, but when bands who had a certain sound in their heyday come along and fall into the same pot, I find it just a bit disappointing.
Outside of the production, the thing that I always enjoyed about What To Do When You Are Dead is how the band’s frontman Ben Jorgensen dealt with existentialism; it was all about dying and being dead and reflecting on the life once lived. There Is No Memory is somewhat similar in the sense that the album reflects on past life events, things that have had a huge impact on Jorgensen, such as the end of his marriage. These memories are what have helped shape him into who he is today. While it’s not quite as conceptual as experiencing death and the afterlife, the emotion we know and love from Armor for Sleep is still well and truly alive.
Songs such as In Another Dream have emotionally charged choruses with the lyrics Hold on, I never got to say goodbye / Maybe in another life / We can share air from our lungs / But never again in this one or Ice On The Lake, which touches on the difficulty of letting someone go but knowing you need to not to be pulled under yourself. Jorgensen knows how to write lyrics, and even two decades later, he can still deliver lyricism with a crushing blow.
Overall, I enjoyed what Armor for Sleep have with There Is No Memory; however, I also think it’s plagued slightly by this overly samey Octanecore production, but I don’t know if that’s something bands can avoid nowadays with squeaky clean production and recording methods. It’s a bittersweet album for me both musically and lyrically. The album lyrically exposes Jorgensen’s raw feelings, pouring with emotion, to a soundtrack of slightly overpolished guitar riffs and explosive choruses.
Armor for Sleep’s There Is No Memory is available now via Equal Vision Records
Rating: 7/10