Flyleaf

Memento Mori

(A&M/Octone)

Even though lead singer Lacey Mosely doesn’t appreciate being compared to Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee, it’s hard not to mention the two in the same breath after Mosely’s vocal efforts on her bands latest, Memento Mori. She called Lee to mind on Flyleaf’s self-titled debut, and with the band's smart decision to infuse more melody into their music, she sounds like Lee more than ever, but the Flyleaf and Evanscenece similarities mostly end there.

Introducing more melodies into Memento Mori songs was the best thing the band could have done. Even though this record fades near the end, its opening 70 percent makes up the difference. Flyleaf succeeded in ramping up the album's commercial appeal through centralized grooves and a smooth ebb and flow that, in the end, makes Memento Mori an easy listen.

Much of the band's harder edge has gone, but that’s not saying these guys (and girl) forgot how to write a great hard rock song. Mosely’s screams less than a handful of times throughout, but this time they are used wisely. This allows the listener to focus more on the bands furrow-laden hooks, which serve as a running theme from start to finish. The sometimes trite anguished temperament might not be as prevalent, but tracks like “Beautiful Brides,” “Again,” “Chasm,” and “Missing” should be able to get enough people together for a respectable pit.