Scarpoint, The Silence We Deserve
Much like an over matched boxer stepping into a heavy weight fight, Scarpoint will leave you bruised and bloody — most likely laying face first on the cold floor. Just when you think you’ve figured out their game plan and start deflecting blows to your cranium, Scarpoint switch it up violently and focus on the body shots, often throwing in a few rabbit punches and a head butt or two.
Scarpoint’s debut album The Silence We Deserve throws bone splintering riffs into a blender along with the likes of thrashing drums, pummeling bass and technical tempo shifts. Take that slurry of elements and throw in Henrik Englund’s vocal delivery to complete the fatal head shot. Englund’s delivery ranges from the shear guttural to mid range shouts to maniacal ranting and back again. Combined this five piece hits you from every angle possible as hard as they possibly can, inflicting damage with every blow.
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The first track is essentially an extended intro with plenty of sound clips and effects.
Disorder
Scarpoint waste no time getting down to business, hitting quickly with crunchy and beefy riffs at a galloping pace as drummer Erik Thyselius pummels his kit. “Disorder” is a powerful, aggressive track that shifts speeds smoothly from grinding terror to plodding riffs. Hell, the band even throws in some melodic guitar work to the mix creating a nicely layered listening experience.
Behind The Shadows
The band pounds on with this next song with riffing that’ll have you stomping in a one-man circle pit with a quickness. I’m loving the layered guitar work that these guys have been using so far. Englund’s vocals are appropriate for the band’s sound, shifting from mid range shouts to guttural, beastly growls. “Behind The Shadows” explodes with some driving thrash at about the 2:13.
Terminal Treachery
A nice opening riff carries us onto this next track. This one hits hard with beefy riffing and drumkit devastation in a breakdown at about the 1:30 mark. There’s a good bit of variety throughout this one, both in terms of the vocal delivery and the guitar work.
The Silence We Deserve
The title track starts off with a driving riff and catchy drum work. Englund’s delivery has a great groove and cadence to it that’ll have you shouting along. Good luck keeping up with him later in the track as he lets loose with vocal volleys from all over the place.
Chronic
After the title track has faded, “Chronic” bursts through the speakers with a series of brutal riffs. This one has a paradoxical feel to it, often times sounding prehistorically simple in its delivery while still maintaining a level of technical destruction — leaving the track with a complex sound.
Imposture
Galloping drums and riffs keep the pace flowing as “Imposture” gets going. I recommend playing this one as loud as you can stand. The groove is simply awesome.
Self Greed
“Self Greed” fades in with thrashing drums and galloping riffs, before slowing the pace slightly as Englund’s vocals come in. You’ll be left with a sprained neck or fracture spinal column after trying to keep up with this one.
Oblivion
After arguably the most intense tracks on the album, Scarpoint slows it down a bit with the opening to “Oblivion”. You don’t have to wait too long, however, as the band erupts with big riffs and screams from Englund. There’s plenty of huge riffs throughout this one, highlighted with creative guitar work.
Against My Will
The final track on this album starts off quietly with soft guitar work. You only have to put up with it for about 43 seconds before the album literally rips a hole through your speakers with a huge scream and crushing riffs. There are moments of shear, animalistic destruction on this one — quite a departure from its more civilized opening.
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Man, this is quite an album. Scarpoint’s The Silence We Deserve is anything but silent, combining crushing guitar work and armageddon-like drumming with catchy grooves and intense vocal work to produce a memorable listening experience.
Favorite Tracks:
All of them.
Additional Notes:
n/a