Year: 2020
Total Time: 15:54
Label: Nuclear Blast
Phil Anselmo’s love for Death Metal and more specific about Black Metal has been known for years, as his numerous efforts with various projects (VIKING CROWN, CHRIST INVERSION) to reproduce this sound were not very successful. In 2015, however he decided to make another attempt by creating SCOUR and releasing through the years three Eps, including this year’s entitled “The Black”. The band can now be described as a supergroup as besides Anselmo it consists of the following members: Adam Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER), Mark Kloeppel (MISERY INDEX) and John Jarvis (AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED).
Since their formation many characterized SCOUR as a Black Metal band, an opinion that is far from the truth as the Americans mix, in a sick way, Black Metal mastery with Death, Thrash Metal and Grindcore. To my ears they sound like a modernized Black Metal version of ANAL NATHRAKH (without of course the British’s industrial elements). They are an extreme metal gang that destroys everything in its path with an aggressive approach and may sound quite extreme to some metal fans. “The Black” EP’s six compositions follow the same musical paths, as SCOUR’s two previous releases, with the only difference being that here the band sounds even more furious and the songs move in frenetic rhythms. What stands out though is Phil Anselmo’s vocal performance, who sounds in excellent form and at times “frightens” with his growls and screams.
Phil Anselmo’s SCOUR return with a remarkable sample of modern extreme metal, offering some pleasant auditions. It should also be noted that in the EP there are guest appearances from Eric Rutan (HATE ETERNAL CANNIBAL CORPSE), Pat O’Brien (CANNIBAL CORPSE) and actor Jason Momoa (that was a surprise). SCOUR could also be described as Phil’s most successful project, in terms of Black Metal , but when I listen to Anselmo and Black Metal I keep thinking about EIBON (the project that besides Anselmo, Killjoy, Satyr, Fenriz and Maniac were also involved) and the album that was never completed.
Rating: 6.5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: SCOUR – Facebook Page
