By Matt Haynes
(Image: The Heir Appairition)
I do love any excuse to revisit a band that I’ve not had the delight of spinning for a while (I mean, there’s just so much music out there these days it can be hard to choose what to listen to!). In this case, I’m revisiting a band that absolutely blew me away with their last release who have also undergone a bit of a metamorphosis.
The band in question? Good old Manchester Prog-Rockers The Heir Apparition. Formerly Fate’s Hollow, 2025 saw a re-brand for the group and also saw them apply a fresh lick of paint to their phenomenal release ‘Part 1 – Broken Crowns’, this time giving us the updated ‘Memento Mori’ edition. If you enjoy your Coheed & Cambria prog rock storytelling, then this is one you will definitely want in your playlists.
What’s different about the ‘Memento Mori’ edition?
Improved mixes. New drum sampling. More precise masters. An absolutely gorgeous new artwork courtesy of Laurence Crow. All supported by a new line-up that features artists eager to paint the world of Elo for fans to indulge and dive into it. The songs sound crisper and tighter, whilst still retaining the original elements we first heard in the original version of the album.
When I heard ‘Broken Crowns’ for the first time, I was blown away by not just the incredibly talented music, but also the work put into creating the world of Elo Harrick and his journey. All the tracks stood out in their own unique way and resonated differently when you really delved into the story being told by each song. With the remastered versions, I still felt that original tingle but also felt a new one as I could hear the songs in a new light.
From start to finish, there’s no moment where I found myself bored or going ‘oh look, another generic riff’. I was able to enjoy the flow of each track, losing myself in the storytelling and powerful lyrics as I was whisked away by the masterful musical aspects. The album was once again a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. It was like visiting and catching up with an old friend - it was stories I'd heard before but found myself enjoying once more after some time away
With the band nice and busy working on things behind the scene to continue Elo’s story, ‘Part I – Broken Crowns (Memento Mori)’ is not only a testament to how well the original album stands, but also a great way of introducing fans old and new to the fresh new look that The Heir Apparition are going forward with as well as their musical universe.
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