Successfully following up their well received full-length outing "Missing The Perfect" is no easy task but Still Life seem to be up to the challenge as "A Memory In Waiting" picks up not too far ahead from where it left off, displaying the same basic elements that made the aforementioned effort so enjoyable while also sounding more focused and evolved. Perhaps most comparable to an combination of Tool reminiscent rhythms and emotional finger eleven styled vocals, the group belt out a brand of melodic metal that has enough integrity to instantly make an impression and still ensure that a few emphatic hooks get stuck in the listeners head.

Band frontman Millie has taken a slightly darker mood upon himself this time out and as such his vocals possess more bite than they have in the past. Overall this new direction tends to mean that less of the uplifting melodic choruses that were prominent on the bands past work are included here, though the tighter verses and more restrained nature add a greater intensity and sense of heaviness to the songs as a whole. Jagged guitar work with a Tool reminiscent flair jumps between atmospheric effect laden passages and cunning powerfully distorted thrusts that tackle the listeners attention and force them to take notice. Helping to achieve this sense of urgency are the weighty bass lines. With their mild down tuning and brooding nature they give a certain moody depth to the music that undeniably becomes one of the bands key strengths. Bolstered by a forceful drumming performance that features dense hits and an abundance of sharp snare variations, the rhythm section ultimately drives the songs forth and sets the tone for the rest of the band to follow.

It's definitely pleasant to see a band actually growing and evolving with each subsequent release without drastically changing their sound or trying to jump on the current hot trend. Indeed, Still Life are a prime example of a group sticking to their guns and refining their craft rather than abandoning it for something that is more commercially viable and as such their integrity really shines through. Their songs feel honest and from the heart, connecting with listeners first and foremost through their conviction and cerebral intensity rather than flashy hooks and gimmicks. In fact, the only thing that really seems to hinder the band on this release is an all too similar song writing formula present on nearly each track. This tends to leave the songs caught in a mid tempo pace, never really lashing out into vibrant dynamic highs and lows which in essence means they never really quite manage to catch the listener off guard and instead plod forth at a somewhat predictable pace. To put it bluntly, though now more moodier and headstrong, the band still need to implement a few colorful twists and turns into their songs to really carve out a discernible identity for themselves. Sure their musicianship and talent is generally top notch, but without a bit more surprises and dynamic uncertainty, their songs may have trouble winning over new listeners as the market for this style of music is beginning to reach its peak and will surely overflow with diluted clones in the next year or two to come.