ALBUM REVIEW: Scarecrow - Scarecrow

SCARECROW (Russia)
"Scarecrow"
(Independent)
Release date: September 13th 2019
Genre: Heavy blues, blues rock, heavy rock
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SCARECROW is a group from Perm, a city in the western part of Russia, close to the foot of the Ural Mountains. According to the band themselves it is a dark and hostile place to exist, with a lot of swamps and forests around the city, and consequently a perfect place to find inspiration for their dark, heavy blues rock.

The band has existed since 2013, and is of a quartet format. Their main musical influences are late 60's/early 70's heavy rock, and Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath are probably the most obvious mentions in this case. SCARECROW's music can be described as heavy blues rock with symphonic elements and hints of swing/jazz. The songs and the production on their self titled debut have captured the same dark vibe that Black Sabbath did on their debut, but SCARECROW have taken it one step further and added their own flavors to it.

An orchestral overture is the first of the eight tracks on "Scarecrow" or "Volume I", as the band tends to call it, and when it ends I find myself waiting for a brutal death metal assault. Overtures are not the most common features on a heavy rock album, so it is indeed an interesting combination.

"The Journey" is the point where this Russian quartet introduce themselves, and it is a song that immediately revives the dark, doomy spirit that was born on Black Sabbath's debut. The harmonica is present, the catchy guitar licks that are vital to bring life into any blues song, and even the vocal lines sound unmistakably inspired by Ozzy. Singer Artemis has a very high voice that bears comparison to Geddy Lee and Budgie's Burke Shelley, and they are double tracked and panned hard left and right for a fuller vocal sound - as was a commonly used technique on Black Sabbath's earlier records as well.

Things are slowed down a bit on "The Final Problem", and I'm tempted to call it occult blues. "When the Powers of Evil are Exalted" introduces the flute, and "Worm of Anger" is a pure gem of catchy heavy rock.

"Autumn Wood" is the calmest track on the album, and a fine little smooth jazzy blues ballad. It reaches heavier peaks at times, but all in all it showcases a rather different side of the band. A very good one too, might I add.

"Madman" brings the orchestra back in to join the band, and the combination of doomy hard rock and strings proves to be a successful one. To my personal taste the orchestra is a bit too loud in the mix, but let's not get too preoccupied with splitting hairs. The riffs sound very like those created by Tony Iommi himself, and they form a solid base upon which the orchestra can be allowed to shine.

"Scarecrow" introduces another new element during the opening seconds. There is an eerie mood all the way through the song, and the sounds of wind and crows are there to just make it more creepy. Eventually the guitar and orchestra join hands for an ominous riff passage, and it sounds like the soundtrack from an old Vincent Price movie. A perfect, slightly more dramatic conclusion to an already dark collection of songs, and I'm really looking forward to "Volume II".

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Scarecrow Overture
2. The Journey
3. The Final Problem
4. When the Powers of Evil Are Exalted
5. Worm of Anger
6. Autumn Wood
7. Madman
8. Scarecrow

LINE UP:
Artemis - vocals, harmonica, flute
Elijah - bass
Vadim - drums
Den - guitar