Scarm: Fragile

Scarm's native land of Finland is a place many great metal bands call home. The Nordic countries in general are the place to go for top-tier metal; something about the cold just brings out the darkness it people, it seems. This fact of Scarm's heritage is but one of many reasons why their debut LP, Fragile, is so disappointing in its reliance on metalcore tropes. I've discussed the death of metalcore at much greater length before, so I won't repeat myself here. Suffice it to say that what is now metal's most popular genre has, like many genres that go mainstream, become awash with generic bands variating on the same breakdown. There are hints throughout Fragile that suggest Scarm could end up above the drab fray, but in the end most of what's here is no different than any metalcore already out on the market. Some of these breakdowns even felt straight-ripped from a Demon Hunter album. What Scarm really needs is a culturally sensitive understanding of the music they like to play; breakdowns are cool, yes, but when an entire scene has become oversaturated with them a group has to do a lot more to distinguish themselves. It's the lack of that understanding that makes Fragile a generic, forgettable exercise.

Track Listing
1. Genesis
2. Demand Your Destinies
3. Circle
4. Fragile
5. Rain
6. Depraved Countenance
7. In Aversion
8. Running Asleep
9. Concrete Wall
10. Devoid
11. Alku

Added: October 28th 2012
Reviewer: Brice Ezell
Score:
Related Link: Band MySpace Page
Hits: 4988
Language: english

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