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Let me start by getting a few things out of the way: Bolt Thrower have been a very important band for me, helping shape my awesome taste in death metal and extreme metal in general. Having said that, Memoriam would be a no-brainer for me by definition; instead, I actually never really got into the band, and that's mainly because I always feel there's something missing.

Enters Requiem for Mankind, third album by the British quartet in the span of just three years. Are we going to see some Benediction-esque atmosphere and some Cerebral Fix-like brutality here like on the good For the Fallen (2017) or are we going to be sort of numb and kind of disappointed like with The Silent Vigil (2018)? Well...actually, neither. The album is like putting Memoriam's first two efforts in a blender with some iron and steel. This means that, while it's not savage or bombastic enough to be compared to Bolt Thrower's heydays and even their own first album, it definitely has strong, notable moments, and it's their heaviest work to date.

I would place the overall concept of this album in a gray area somewhere between Memoriam's own first record and Bolt Thrower's repetitive Honour - Valour - Pride (2001). The passion and urge to write something special is there but, again, something is amiss in terms of memorability and long-term relevancy. Though I can now safely say that Memoriam will never reach Bolt Thrower's legacy, the band has delivered here an album that should reach the hearts of their fans, managing to comprise both their past endeavors into a single package. Please note that this is still a good mid-paced death metal album nevertheless, it's just not quite on par with Willets and team's curriculum, which is my main criticism here.

So, you see, Requiem for Mankind instigates mixed feelings all around. The heaviness is crushing, as is the instrumental work by these seasoned soldiers. We're talking about legendary soldiers, though, so once again I'm convinced that the final product could have been better. All in all, if you enjoy Benediction's back catalogue or something out of a Hail of Bullets' albums, this is right up your alley.