S.C.A.L.P.
Tears And Blood
5.1
Synopsis:
Russia’s underwhelming answer to post Serenades era Anathema.
Review:
Depending on how you view Anathema’s dreamy mid era Pink Floyd laced post-doom albums (Eternity, Alternative 4, A Fine Day to Exit, Judgement), you will either enjoy this two year old Russian album or not.
Expansive, emotional, morose yet threaded with rock hues, S.C.A.L.P are not a pure doom act with their clean croons, lengthy, introspective, atmospherics (“Tear.....”, “Removal”, “Who Dared to Say”) and clean production, but with draining layered melodies and a few moments of double bass work (“Broken Pines”, “Tears and Blood”), the band’s doom ties are tangible.
That being said, as good as a Eastern European, slightly more metal version of Anathema sounds, Tears and Blood ends up being a rather dull album, almost as dull as the recently reviewied Cemetery of Scream, at least production wise, though with more evocative moments. It shares the same hollow guitar tone and less than brilliant vocal work as Cemetery Of Scream also. Anyway, I’m a little burnt out on mediocrity so I’m not going to go too in depth for a two year old album from a band I doubt many of you have heard of.
Metalism should be thankful for Alkonost and Tenochtitlan to make up for this sort of non-descript, middle ground record.
