Band : Mendeed
Album title : Shadows War Love – The Very Best Of Mendeed
Label : Rising
Distributor : Gordeon Music Promotion - SPV
Release date : 07/11/2008
Release : Compilation CD

The Mendeed story, part three? Well, more like an epitaph really! And merely a compilation of songs which were previously issued on their 2007 sophomore full-length The Dead Live By Love (the title song, "Burning Fear", "Take Me As I Am", and the wishfull-thinking "It's Not Over Yet" – regretfully, it still looks like Mendeed won't reform any time soon), the 2006 full-length debut This War Will Last Forever ("The Reaper Waits", "Beneath A Burning Sky", "Stand As One, Fight For Glory", and "Remains Of The Day" – the three first of which could already be found on a live studio version on the Positive Metal Attitude compilation), and 2004's mini-CD From Shadows Came Darkness ("Ignite The Flames", Act Of Sorrow", "Fatal Poison Whisper", and "Glory Be Thy Name").

Personally, I fail to see the relevance of this compilation, as we only have to wait a little longer before SPV will(surely?) also be distributing the band's swan song album The Dead Live By Love on European territory? Well, there may be a problem from Nuclear Blast, who distributed that album originally, but then they did the same with the full-length debut, so I don't really see where the problem would be.

On the other hand, this compilation gives a perfect showcase of what the band had grown to become. Starting from rather raw edges, the last album indeed witnessed a band coming to full growth with a Metalcore comparable to the very best in the field! Creeps...I sure hope SPV dó get to re-issue that last album by this British band! Compilation, so no rating!

Tony.