CARVED MEMORIES hailing from San Jose, Costa Rica were formed in 2008. The symphonic Death Metal band released their debut EP in 2017. Seven years later, they now release their debut full-length album. “The Moirai” was mixed by Marcos Monnerat (HERESY; ROTTEN SOULS) at Stereorat Studio and mastered by Fredrik Nordström (ARCH ENEMY; AT THE GATES; DIMMU BORGIR) at Studio Fredman. The album has a length of more than 32 minutes, and it was released via Swedish Death, Black, and melodic Death Metal specialists Black Lior Records. All orchestrations were arranged by Clemens Wijers (CARACH ANGREN). The album starts strong and powerful with the dark track “Cerberus”. After a short piano intro, thunderous guitar riffs and crushing basslines take over alongside growling vocals, which vary around the medium to higher end of the guttural range. The track is epic with chilling melodies, which are intensified by the orchestrations. “Bellow” continues with grim sound at mid-tempo and a head-banging rhythm. The orchestrions with the strings and brass are prominent throughout and give the track an extra dimension. The growls are very versatile and cover a wide guttural range. They are intensified by background screams. The guitar riffing is punishing and is accompanied by relentless double-bass drumming. “Bellow” is one of the album highlights. “Doom” increases the pace for most parts of the track. It is a mixture of hammering blast-beat driven parts at crazy speed and parts at a measured tempo with epic and partially melancholic melodies. The orchestrations are more in the background with the strings being most prominent. The vocals are again two-parted with either deep-lying growls or higher pitched screams, supported by a choir at times.

“Agathodaimon” continues with the symphonic Death Metal sound with punishing riffs, melodic lead guitar contributions, and the strings being prominent during the chorus parts. The growls are mainly higher pitched with a few screams. The melodies are spine-chilling and driven mainly by the lead guitars. The track is a head-banger at times and pre-dominantly at the final stages of the track. “The Sovereign” is a tension-building, orchestra-driven prelude to “Raven”, introducing the main melody of the track. The tempo of the track varies between measured tempo and mid-tempo, including a few faster parts. The guitar riffing is thunderous and crushing, while the orchestrations are notable but in the background with the brass being the main contributor. To intensify darkness, a choir is added to the journey as well. The growls are again two-parted with deep-lying growls accompanying the higher pitched growls. The track ends with a short but contributing lead guitar solo. “Raven” is the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below.

“Hourglass” starts aggressively with crushing guitar riffing at mid-tempo during the verse parts. The transitions towards the epic chorus parts are subtle. The middle part of the track is driven by the blood-freezing melodies delivered by the guitars, the hammering drums, and the prominent orchestrations with the strings and brass. “Hourglass” has all the best elements of symphonic Death Metal including the melancholic melodies and it is another album highlight. The final track is the title song, and it is one of the faster tracks at least for most parts. The track is driven by hammering drums, the lead guitars, prominent strings, and melancholy in the melodies, which have a certain catchiness at times. The track ends with the piano. “The Moirai” is a great finish of the album.

It is said that all good things need their time, and CARVED MEMORIES took their time to deliver excellence in symphonic Death Metal. “The Moirai” is an eight-chapter journey of darkness, melancholy, and epic melodies at times, but it is also hammering throughout. Key of the symphonic Death Metal sound are the orchestrations, and they were done by the best in business. The impact of Clemens Wijers orchestrations give the album an extra dimension. The album is well produced. “The Moirai” is one of the very best symphonic Death Metal albums I listened to for a long time and a must-have album for fans of this genre.