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Sinocence: Scar Obscura

Northern Irish Metallers Sinocence originally issued second album Scar Obscura a year or so back through Rising Records but having now gone down the self-financed route this enhanced package re-release comes via their own Metalbox recordings. Receiving widespread critical acclaim and having completed tours with the likes of W.A.S.P., Machine Head, BFMV and Lacuna Coil, Sinocence are clearly front runners amongst Metal's current crop of up and coming bands to watch, and if they can build on this outstanding album they will very soon be challenging the elite.

Big, bold and brash, Scar Obscura immediately explodes with the huge sounding "Perfect Denial" and the pace rarely lets up for the next hour. Vocalist Moro is a singer not a screamer and this ensures the lyrics are given strong emphasis against the backdrop of aggressive riffing and insistent rhythms. Mellow and reflective, "Art of Separation" is a mid-album gem of heart breaking intensity and the female background vocals add to the mood of despondency. At more than nine minutes, the closing "Terminus" is a haunting affair that builds with precision; muscular riffs and an aching vocal refrain that oozes quality. But this is more than an album of three songs, each one makes its own impression and there is simply nothing here that is undeserving.

Comparisons would only serve as an injustice as Sinocence are very much their own band; powerful, hook laden, melodic metal that is complex yet accessible and very much deserving of being heard by a wider audience. Their sound is one that will undoubtedly hold appeal to Metal fans old and new and Scar Obscura comes highly recommended.


Track Listing
1. Perfect Denial
2. Metal Box
3. God Complex
4. Ultraviolent
5. Art of Separation
6. Eviscerate
7. Rule As One
8. All New Revenge
9. Scar Obscura
10. Terminus

Added: December 26th 2010
Reviewer: Dean Pedley
Score:
Related Link: MySpace
Hits: 3371
Language: english

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Sinocence: Scar Obscura
Posted by Ryan Sparks, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-12-26 13:33:05
My Score:

Hailing from Northern Ireland Sinocence has been a fixture on the UK metal scene since releasing their debut album Black Still Life Pose back in 2005. Their sophomore disc Scar Obscura originally issued by Rising Records came out in the summer of 2009, however the band wasn't happy with how the label handled the album so they decided to form their own label in order to re-package and re-release it, and it's a good thing they decided to go this route because music this good definitely needs and deserves to be heard.

I flat out love what these four lads have put together here on Scar Obscura. The music here is a combination of good old fashioned metal with a dash of thrash thrown in. The soaring, clean vocals laid down by lead belter Moro comes across as a breath of fresh air as many bands that rely on such a punishing and relentless attack such as this tend to deploy vocalists that utilize an equally as harsh vocal approach in order to match the music. Mind you the songs on Scar Obscura are crafted in such a way as to fully utilize the rich and full range of his voice, but this line of attack in my opinion just serves to further emphasize the over abundance of chugging riffs, killer hooks and superb melodies that are scattered everywhere across the album. The layout and artwork contained throughout the inside booklet perfectly illustrates some of the heavy subject matter (cancer) that is touched upon in the lyrics of the title track and the closing number "Terminus". This final song is an epic, nine minute, emotional roller coaster ride that absolutely crushes the listener via its combination of punishing riffs and pile driving rhythms coupled with some truly heartbreaking lyrics, delivered by Moro in what certainly has to be his most convincing and emotional vocal performance on the whole album.

Scar Obscura doesn't officially qualify to be included on the best of lists for 2010, but I'm certain this is one of the freshest sounding metal records I've heard all year. Not to mention if Sinocence is able to follow this one up with another stellar effort such as Scar Obscura, then they're definitely going to be shedding that indie tag in a hurry.



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