Memento Mori may be Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album, but it still does not offer anything new. 

Generally speaking, while Depeche Mode may be an authentic post-punk band, they still lack originality, as the majority of their vocals and instrumentals are comparable to a combination of Tears for Fears, Muse, and Nine Inch Nails. 

Unfortunately, Memento Mori also falls into this category. 

Giving Depeche Mode the benefit of the doubt, they have experimented with many technical elements and synth-based industrial sounds. These components shine through in the band’s latest release. 

The album broadly sticks to an angsty, slow sound, but in tracks like “Ghosts Again,” the upbeat, technical elements of the band stand out. 

If Memento Mori was just a standalone work, it would be pretty solid, as there’s a decent variety of mixings and backing tracks, and it has a deep and pleasant sound. The album only falls short because of the comparison to Depeche Mode’s earlier work. 

Fans of the previously mentioned bands would enjoy this work, but those who are looking to get deeper into the alternative scene should stick to the classics.