At the end of March 2023, Depeche Mode released their 15^th studio album, Memento Mori, the band’s first release following the passing of founding member Andy Fletcher. The album features “Before We Drown,” co-written by touring members of the band and Reservoir writers Christian Eigner and Pete Gordeno and “Speak To Me,” also co-written by Eigner.

David Gahan and Martin Gore, the band’s current roster and two of its founding members, came together to create the critically acclaimed album. Memento Mori debuted at #2 on the Official UK Albums chart, while grabbing #2 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums, #3 on Top Alternative Albums, #4 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, and #14 on the Top 200.

To date, the album has impressed critics and fans alike. NME said, “‘Memento Mori’ is comfortably their best album this side of the millennium, and, most importantly, a testament to creativity and friendship. The music world is richer for it.” While The Line of Best Fit praised the album as a lyrical “powerhouse” paired with “raw” music and claimed, “After almost 40 years in the business, Depeche Mode are still at the top of their game and ready to explore their vulnerabilities in new and intense ways.” Rolling Stone specifically praised “Before We Drown” for its pensiveness and lauded Eigner and Gordeno for “build[ing] tension minute after minute.”

In March, Gahan and Gore kicked off the Memento Mori world tour in California, where they gave debut performances of several tracks off the album.

Stream Memento Mori: