Review: “Memoir” by Keepsake (3rd Anniversary)

Established in 2019, Keepsake are a Progressive Metalcore quartet hailing from the south coast of the United Kingdom who caught our attention belatedly in February of 2023 when they opened for Fraktions and You Win Again Gravity at Suburbia in Southampton.  Impressed by their set we decided to go back and check out their debut EP “Memoir” as part of this year’s anniversary review offerings and herein lies the first surprise. While the band recorded the EP themselves, it is in fact mixed and mastered by Swedish recording engineer and producer Henrik Udd (Static-X, The Amity Affliction, Architects), an absolute legend. Then you have artwork by Chris Hardy (Blessings Of Mara, Perception, White Wizard), another absolute legend. It’s safe to say that in putting out their debut record, Keepsake made sure that they got the best possible team around them…

…Orchestration provides a meloncholic beauty to the opening strains of “Grey“, setting the mood before the guitars, drums, bass and caustic vocals come into play while remaining in the background to give the cut an ethereal quality. The vocals are classic Metalcore, unclean in the verse and clean in the chorus as introspective thoughts spill out on the page like blood from a recently severed artery with a dark beauty in a dull ache or a cathartic roar. The guitars are equally as impressive, sounding very much like the work of two guitarists sandwiched into the performance of one. Swirling dark and brooding moods are harboured in “Regret“, the retrospective thoughts of a broken relationship that has lead to depression from which comfort is sort. The guitars crush with hints at Post-Hardcore influences in the background and an vibrant solo to match the background ambience. This is by no means a raw demo but in point of fact a highly polished showpiece that confirms the bands credentials with quality over quantity and a weight and gravity of emotion and meaning intertwined into the very soul of these songs. Injecting adrenaline without breaking the somber mood “Memoir” leans on Progressive Metal roots with guitars that approach DJent and a bold and brave clean chorus that has 80’s Gothic synth pop undertones. The violence of the verse is perfectly counterbalanced by the beauty of the chorus meaning that the band have within them musicianship and dedication to their craft that is far beyond their years and experience. The very definition of a hidden gem, this one is highly recommended [8.5/10]

Track Listing

  1. Grey (feat. Alex Tovell)
  2. Regret
  3. Memoir

Memoir” by Keepsake is out now and available over at bandcamp

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