Scar For Life: Worlds Entwined

Having released their self-titled debut in 2008, Portugal's Scar For Life have slowly evolved through a series of line-up changes across three albums, into a slick sharp hybrid outfit, who infuse a tried and tested Melodic Rock framework with a dirty guitar sound and layered vocals; giving off an amazingly here and now vibe in the process. In places things verge on traditional Heavy Metal, in others Def Leppard could be seen as an influence and yet, in truth, it's hard to site strong sounding points here, with the closest vibe possibly being latter day Winger with a tougher outlook. And yet at times this band has some seriously Pop hooks. However a little originality can only be a good thing.

The only survivor from the early days of this band is guitarist Alexandre Santos, with, for Worlds Entwined, bassist Teen Asty (really…), drummer Joao and Hotwire/Crush singer Rob Mancini rounding out the official line-up. However all previous SFL releases have seen some special guests augment the core of the band and album number four is no different, hard-hitters such as Vinnie Appice (Dio/Black Sabbath), Neil Fraser (Ten/Rage Of Angels) and Michael Carlsson (Love Under Cover) sprinkling a little super-star magic over an already convincing bunch of songs.

That all said, "Thirteen Revolution" is an unusual choice of introduction for Worlds Entwined, an uncompromisingly heavy churn of guitars and harsh backing vocals sitting the song somewhere between Strange Highways era Dio and Dysfunctional Dokken. However it certainly makes you sit up and take notice, with Mancini commanding the attention through an expressive, in your face delivery, as his voice corrals the harsher edge expertly. From there attacks are varied from song to song, "Because I Can" a mix of catchy chorus and grinding verse, while "Wish You Well Tonight" is almost Leppard, or Bryan Adams like in its easy balladic style. Add in the more straight up Hard Rock of "Disconnected", the moody, atmospheric and probably most Melodic Rock like pair of "My Dark Serenade" and "Fire And Flame" and it becomes a quite an eclectic collection. In fact, so much so that initial listens can sound a little flat and confusing, however stick with things and a real depth, both in terms of songwriting and performance is revealed, which marks Scar For Life out as an act that deserves attention from a whole host of Rock and Metal quarters.

Hopefully this line-up of Scar For Life can stick together for some time, as this first step from those involved on Worlds Entwined is really rather impressive.

Track Listing
1. Thirteen Revolution
2. Because I can
3. Judgement Day
4. Promised Land
5. Vendetta
6. Disconected
7. The Patriot
8. My Dark Serenade
9. Carlos Wonder
10. Fire And Flame
11. Wish You Well Tonight
12. Worlds Entwined

Added: October 12th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Scar For Life online
Hits: 2618
Language: english

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