MEMORY GARDEN - 1349 (180gr / Gatefold, Incl. Poster & 4 Bonus Tracks) 2LP

Memory Garden were formed in 1992 in Sweden, recording demo and EP releases (including "Forever", one of the finest EPs in metal history) until 1996 where their debut full-length album "Tides" shocked the Doom Metal world. A technical, crushing and powerful album that paved the way for the future, with Memory Garden joining Metal Blade Records releasing the albums "Verdict of Posterity" (1998) and "Mirage" (2000). At that point, Memory Garden were already hailed as one of the leading forces of the Power/Doom Metal field. And while time and tide wait for no man, they kept the course releasing "Carnage Carnival" (2008) and "Doomain" (2013). Eight years later, Swedish powerdoom-metal is ready to strike again with an album that will shock the scene.

"1349" is a conceptual album and the storyline covers both fact and fiction, taking place during the pandemic years of the black plague. The album is mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö and the artwork is created once again by the mighty Hjules (Destruction, Grave Digger, Annihilator, Stratovarius). Guest artists such as Niklas Stålvind (Wolf), Josefin Bäck (the original voice of "Marion" from the first demo in 1993!) and Göran "Freddy" Fredrikson (medieval instruments) contribute to this album. An album which will offer a sufficient dose of Swedish powerdoom-metal!

Line-Up:

Stefan Berglund: Vocals, backing vocals

Tom Björn: Drums, piano, backing vocals

Simon Johansson: Lead guitar

Johan Wängdahl: Bass, backing vocals

Andreas Mäkelä: Guitars, rhythm, melodic and acoustic. Backing vocals

Tracklist:

A1. Shallow Waters

A2. Pariah

A3. Distrust

B1. Rivers Run Black

B2. The Flagellants

B3. The Messenger

C1. The Empiric

C2. 1349

C3. Blood Moon

Bonus Tracks:

D1. Unrestrained

D2. Heart Of The Dark (Demo 1993)

D3. Legions Of The Lost (Demo 1993

D4. Up From The Ashes (Demo 1993)

"Unrestrained was initially meant to be on the album as well, but somewhere during the process we felt it wouldn't fit in", says Tom Björn. "It ended up as a nice bonus instead, without any relevance to the album lyrics wise and the topic here is of a more philosophical nature". As for the previously unreleased demo tracks, Tom adds: "The demos were recorded in studio Bunker in Kumla 1993 sometime, with the original line-up. We don't know why none of these songs ever made it to an album, they were just forgotten about". But they will definitely add a historical value for the fans of Memory Garden.