Vim Fuego
At first, much of Scars Of Tomorrow's `The Horror Of Realization' seems like nothing more than bog standard metalcore, inasmuch that it is basically Machine Head on steroids, similar to any one of hundreds of albums out there. It could easily be mistaken for Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, or any number of other derivative bands.
This album has all the genre standards: metal-like guitars, solid but not flashy percussion, contrasting dual voiced vocals, staccato riffs, little in the way of musical embellishment like solos or drum fills and the ever present angst-drenched lyrics. In short, why would you bother, because you've heard it all before? Well, to listen to the first few tracks alone, you shouldn't. OK, so perhaps genre trainspotters might appreciate it but most listeners will most likely start to lose interest by the end of the third song "Murderers And Madmen".
But first impressions can be deceiving. Fourth track "SSNova" comes along and the whole mood of the album immediately changes. Taking a more minimalist approach, it starts with an acoustic intro and booming floor toms, adds Neurosis-like shrieked vocals and is layered with bass and guitar effects before fading to a breezy soundscape. Sure, the next track "The Hidden Grudge" is back to the hard-headed bludgeon, but guest vocals from Alex Varkatzas offers a vocal trade off and some variation in the guitar effects makes a change from out and out brutality. It segues straight into "The Marks Of Time", which seems like part two of the same song.
And the variety continues. "The Marks Of Time" has genuine shouted Hardcore counter-vocals. "4Smith" is an exploration of feedback and a gentle, tripped-out rhythm. "The Struggle" features melodic guitars and a Metal blast beat, while album closer "Onthe15" is an almost ambient instrumental, eventually drifting off to nothingness.
While some of the tracks of `The Horror Of Realization' are far from standard metalcore, the main focus is still on brutality. The experimentation here may be a little more challenging than what most fans of the genre are used to but it sets Scars Of Tomorrow apart from much of the crowd. The sound may not be as far left field as the likes of Candiria or Shai Hulud, but Scars Of Tomorrow are more easily digested. Such experimentation and implementation of new sounds and influences may just be the answer to metalcore's stagnation.