Release
date: October
11th
2019.
Label: Seeing Red Records. Format: CD/DD
Burn
Scar –
Tracklisting
1.Asger
Arisen 06:42
2.Maelstroms
Rebirth 07:19
3.Watered
Down Alby 04:38
4.You
Blew It 05:07
5.Cry
Off 04:30
6.Cleanse
Of Ire 06:20
7.Rudiger,
his name is not important 07:24
8.Line
of Descent 07:58
Members
Mike
Crew - Bass
Dan
Elsen - Drums
Chris
Roberts - Guitar & Vocals
Adam
Scarborough - Guitar & Vocals
Review
Burn
Scar is the new album from Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metallers Shadow
Limb and it’s a deeply progressive sounding album where the band
explore many different elements of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with
a deep admiration for all things Progressive and Psychedelic.
Opening
song - Asger Arisen – opens with a heavy pounding groove that has a
slight Baroness/Mastodon influence with the Psychedelic and
Progressive sounding guitars playing at a fast pace which is quite
melodic in places. When the vocals appear, the song moves into a
heavier style of music with the Doom Metal aspect coming into play
and the song becomes ever more daring. The song is gritty and
unforgiving in places with Shadow Limb adding a more alternative flow
to their music especially towards the end as the vocals and music
feel more restrained.
Second
song -- Maelstroms Rebirth – is where the band go down the
experimental route with Neurosis-style Post-Metal interludes and
clean singing that shows a different side to the band compared to the
opening song. The music is played at a brisk-to-mid pace that allows
the band to get as many heavy riffs into the mix they possibly can.
Shades of Mastodon are still felt here and I’m fine with that since
they’re one of my all-time favourite bands. At least Shadow Limb
are trying to add a gloomier and more experimental drive to their
music. The song has some epic guitar solos that only just draws you
into their crazy world.
Third
song – Watered Down Alby – sees the band play a shorter song
lasting over four minutes and this allows Shadow Limb to cut out all
of the progressive rock/metal ideas and play a more direct
Sludge/Stoner Metal song that is quite thrilling to hear. The vocals
and lyrics feel more real on this song as the song has quite a
different energy and feeling compared to the other songs on the
album.
Fourth
song – You Blew It – starts with an Ambient Post-Rock vibe before
the heavy Progressive Sludge Metal grooves drift into the background
and create one of the albums standout songs. The song changes
direction when a more threatening guitar riff appears out of nowhere
and the frantic drumming take centre stage before Shadow Limb play a
Post-Doom style of music that’s quite bleak in places. The song is
purely instrumental but things become slightly warped and heavier in
the final moments of the song.
Shadow
Limb continue their deep love and appreciation for Mastodon based
progressive melodies but adding their own creative spin on things
with different Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal based atmospheres allowing
the album to sound mighty fresh and inventive on songs such as Cry
Off, Cleanse Of Ire and Rudgier, His Name Is Not Important being the
main highlights.
Things
do become quite OTT and theatrical in places on the second half of
the album but Shadow Limb play to their strengths on this album. Burn
Scar remains a thrilling and addictive listen that allows Shadow Limb
to pay respect to their musical heroes whilst forging an exciting
path and future of their own making..
Words
by Steve Howe
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