I’ve got to say that at first, I just couldn’t get on with this at all. The initial blast of vocals just seemed to be so opposed to the music, at first it felt like I was listening to the sum of two different bands that had been melded together. I’ll be straight up here; it took a few listens before it clicked and then after that it was a different proposition.
Scorched Earth comes four years after Maere and the band themselves (MS & JJ) have been in the business of pushing the sonic envelope of extreme music since 2011. Its incredible that there are bands such as this who seem to be flying under the radar (unless its just me) and can put together a complex and challenging piece such as this.
Heal Me (ft Tim Yatras / Austere) is the first indication that this is not going to be an easy ride. This is a tortured vocal performance which is directly opposite to what you might describe as almost joyous music behind it. They move effortlessly between post-metal into black metal on a whim and it is seamless.
This is music where everything is put out there right from the off, no hiding they are sharing everything with you. It is a supreme effort and I can acknowledge it now I’m synched with it. It constantly evolves until it reaches its natural end. It has been a rich week for me, with this and The Great Old Ones dropping albums that stretch and grow as each track plays out. And in a similar way to Kadath, being able to describe how good it is an effort.
Keep Me Longing opens with a brilliant piano piece that gradually opens up into a full-bore black metal attack. Its furious whilst keeping that opening segment within it. It’s a testament to them both that they are able to build songs to run at the length they do whilst never letting the energy drop. If there is any semblance of similarity with Heal Me, its purely one of quality in execution. Each track is peppered with ‘oh that’s good’ moments, and its something they maintain as we dive into the almost twee opening of Without You I’m Just A Sad Song that opens up and its almost jovial in its build.
Keep Me Longing opens with a brilliant piano piece that gradually opens up into a full-bore black metal attack. Its furious whilst keeping that opening segment within it. It’s a testament to them both that they are able to build songs to run at the length they do whilst never letting the energy drop. If there is any semblance of similarity with Heal Me, its purely one of quality in execution. Each track is peppered with ‘oh that’s good’ moments, and its something they maintain as we dive into the almost twee opening of Without You I’m Just A Sad Song that opens up and its almost jovial in its build.
It’s insane just how good this song is, there is so much going on in it and its beautiful to behold (take a bow MS). Every chord, every riff is built to evoke an emotional response in you whilst JJ is smashing you over the head as vocal line after line is delivered with a pain behind it. If you take the bonus tracks out of the equation, then this is an hour of magic that will provoke a reaction from you. It has everything you could possibly want from extreme music from the urgent pace of No Graves But The Sea to the alternative tinged With Autumn I’ll Surrender. Well, I mean alternative filtered with heavy guitars.
Too Late For Goodbyes (ft Serena Cherry of Svalbard) completes the album (I’ll get to the bonus tracks in a mo) and is a juggernaut. It screams out with an almost trad black metal build to it. Epic riffs, drums that are blasting it continually charges forward at pace until Serena comes in with lush, ethereal vocals that are just fantastic. That moment of quiet allows them to come back in with the grit and yes, it’s been done before but on this they absolutely nailed the execution. It is amazing to think that I may have listened to not one but two albums that we should still be listening to come December (yes, I said that). Its huge in its scope and expansive in its sound and is one of the best things I’ve heard ever.
Bonus tracks:
Radiohead might not be your bag, but on Street Spirit (Fade Out) ft P.G. / Groza they teat us to a faithful but fresh take on it. It is not a half-arsed cover; this is a full-on exercise in how you do it properly. This is glorious and is just the cherry on top of one of the most sumptuous cakes you will ever eat.
Elysian Fields ft Daniel Lang / Backwards Charm is something different again, a palate cleanser if you will and its good in its own right but personally, I would have been happy with just Street Spirit.
Ultimately, this is a monumental release for me. I hastily recommend you get hold of it immediately and just digest it straight away. I’m glad I struck with it and I hope it doesn’t take them 4 years to write another. 10/10
Too Late For Goodbyes (ft Serena Cherry of Svalbard) completes the album (I’ll get to the bonus tracks in a mo) and is a juggernaut. It screams out with an almost trad black metal build to it. Epic riffs, drums that are blasting it continually charges forward at pace until Serena comes in with lush, ethereal vocals that are just fantastic. That moment of quiet allows them to come back in with the grit and yes, it’s been done before but on this they absolutely nailed the execution. It is amazing to think that I may have listened to not one but two albums that we should still be listening to come December (yes, I said that). Its huge in its scope and expansive in its sound and is one of the best things I’ve heard ever.
Bonus tracks:
Radiohead might not be your bag, but on Street Spirit (Fade Out) ft P.G. / Groza they teat us to a faithful but fresh take on it. It is not a half-arsed cover; this is a full-on exercise in how you do it properly. This is glorious and is just the cherry on top of one of the most sumptuous cakes you will ever eat.
Elysian Fields ft Daniel Lang / Backwards Charm is something different again, a palate cleanser if you will and its good in its own right but personally, I would have been happy with just Street Spirit.
Ultimately, this is a monumental release for me. I hastily recommend you get hold of it immediately and just digest it straight away. I’m glad I struck with it and I hope it doesn’t take them 4 years to write another. 10/10
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