Album Review: Armor for Sleep - 'There is No Memory'

When Armor For Sleep released The Rain Museum in 2022, they traded in their original poppy emo for something a bit darker, a bit more subdued. Its clear in their upcoming release, There Is No Memory, that they are sticking with and building upon their new, more mature sound.

 There is No Memory, is about memory (ironic, I know), the hold is has on us, and how it shapes who we are. According to leading man Ben Jorgensen “Its me wondering if I am just the collective sum of all the things I’ve lived through or if there is a me underneath it all who can still choose his own fate". (source via press release) A profound question that he tries to decipher, and one that anyone would ask themselves after something huge happens. Jorgensen’s divorce seems to play a forefront in the memories he gives us a peek inside on this album.

Lyrically, There is No Memory is an elder emo's dream come true. Still sad, still questioning, but for those who have lived some life. "Breathe Again", the first single off the album, is about betrayal and regret, Jorgensen singing ‘If I could fold time up like a piece of paper/ I would never have kissed you/This wouldn’t exist to ruin our lives’.

In "I'd set Fire" and "Maybe the Sky will Break" - Jorgensen gives us true remembrance and denial, showcasing the power of memories and how they can take us back to a place that no longer exists.

"All the Best" ends the album on a note of acceptance, realization, and moving forward. They saved the best for last with this song, making you feel every second of There is No Memory until the very end.

There is No Memory is raw, vulnerable, painful, and full of remembrance. The album drops Friday, 11/7, make sure not to miss it. Armor For Sleep really did their thing with this one.

Rating - 3.5/5