Memento Mori

Album: All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This 8-minute epic transforms from brutal metal to tender electronica and back again – it is a unique song for Architects. "I'm super, super proud of it," guitarist Tom Searle told Metal Hammer. "It's a different type of challenge to write a song like that that actually justifies its length. It's about the intricacies and the returns to the source that make the song what it is – it's meant to be that long."

    "Seven albums in, you want to get to the point where you can flex your creative muscles," he continued. "We couldn't have done this earlier in our career. After The Here And Now we just changed and decided we were going to try and be the best metal band around. That's still our aim. Why aim for being anything less than the best you can be? We went in to the studio with the intention of writing the best metal record of all time."
  • "Memento Mori" is a Latin expression meaning "remember you must die". In its original context, it was used to humble proud generals returning to ancient Rome to remind them of the inevitability of death. In medieval times it served as a warning of the vanity of earthly pleasures or an exhortation to make the most of earthly life. Some still life paintings, especially those produced by Dutch artists in the 16th and 17th centuries, contain a fading flower or a piece of rotting fruit as a memento mori. This reminder of human mortality is typical of Architects' songs.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.