Toxic Devotion is the third album from the Finnish group that shouldn’t need much of an introduction in terms of style and sound considering their last album was 2022’s Pop Metal. Surely at this point, you should have a few different reference points for the sound, as it’s been on the rise more notably since the early 2010’s and Amaranthe’s explosion. What makes Memoremains’ brand of this particular subgenre is that they are fully embracing both the pop and metal aspects, giving it a feeling of energy that’s just as danceable as it is heavy.
While Toxic Devotion is a mere seven songs, it keeps the good vibes moving from beginning to end with no filler to bog it down. Using a combination of bruising and metallic riffs, pop catchiness, and even some disco beats, Memoremains aims to be something that hooks you in quickly. Indeed, the Eurobeat synths that permeate “Stand Up” are as immediately inviting, and the way that they wrap themselves around an almost industrial beat and dirty riffing makes for an even stronger feeling. Add in a soaring, anthemic chorus and it’s quite the formula that should put a smile on any listener’s face, and send them into a flurry of dancing and singing along. “Breakdown” lunges forward with a snarling combination of electrobeats, buzzing riffs, and plenty of playful attitude, and “Danger” looks to even one-up that with it’s soaring electronic-laced chorus that will quite effectively land in your head for a while after just one listen.
There’s still room for some heaviness within their admittedly fun-first mix. The rolling grooves of “Stuck” are nothing if not driving, aiming for a fist-pumping anthem and doing a great job of nailing it, even with a strong emphasis on some intertwined electronics. Likewise, “Toxic Girl” has plenty of riff swagger that is augmented by vocalist Johanna Ahonen’s attitude-fueled delivery. Even on the more melodic side as it ends, “Tears Will Dry” sees the group really embracing some ABBA-esque soundscapes, but the riffing hits with a certain heaviness to it, bolstering it’s more epic sound to finish things out.
The bottom line with Toxic Devotion is that it delivers on its fun premise. Memoremains have a distinctly passionate feeling that they inject their disco pop meets metal formula, and it catapults their sound past much of what you hear in the genre currently. If you want some melodic metal that is just as dance-friendly as it is headbang-worthy, this should be next in your listening queue.