CAYNE is a Gothic Rock band from Milan, Italy. Formed in 1999 by Claudio Leo and Raffaele Zagaria, formerly of LACUNA COIL, they released the album "Old Faded Pictures" in 2001. Now with a different lineup, the group released their new album "Beyond the Scars" on June 29th, 2018, which contains 12 tracks.

"No Answers from the Sky" opens with a passage of slow guitars, creating a cryptic atmosphere, like the instrument is echoing around the walls of an empty church, before the full band comes in, the verses in that similar long, spine-chilling fashion. The chorus is warm with melody, emphasizing the complements of Giordano Adornato's vocals and Giovanni Lanfranchi's keys, and the violin and guitar work at the middle is second-to-none. "Torn Apart" is faster, heavier, and simpler, but that full-bodied chorus is not to be underestimated nor should the violin solo that might make angels cry. "Blessed by the Night" has a great use of keys and capable verses, but the chorus they build to is rather weak compared to the first two, which does hurt its replay value just a bit.

"One More Chance" is a heavy ballad where the violin takes center stage, contrasting with the tone of the song in a way that just works. "Celebration of the Wicked" has power, energy, speed, and a beautiful marriage between verse and chorus, neither one a throw-away to fill time in the song. "The Asylum of Broken Hope" is gloomy yet soothing, and the listener can get lost in the storytelling aspect of the lyrics. The guitars take many forms and express different emotions throughout, and the violin is used expertly and delicately.

"A New Day in the Sun" is an introspective masterpiece. The melodies are subtle but stunning, and Giordano Adornato gives one of his most powerful vocal performances of the album, and guitarist Diego Minach pulls no punches. "Bad Blood" is quite different from its predecessor in style but is just as enjoyable. Its electronic elements, specifically the keys building in intensity, give it a futuristic sound, and there's a focus on melody in every aspect. "Slave" is a quintessential Hard Rock song, with a relatively simple verse to chorus transition. It's not the most groundbreaking of the tracks on this album but still nice to listen to.

"Free at Last" is one of the darkest and heaviest of the songs, with the violin juxtaposing the low-pitched, driving chorus. "My True Nature" is like a breath of fresh air, more upbeat in tone, with just a bit of an AOR vibe that helps it stand out in the best way. The album closes with "The Crossroad," which is still a great song, but I think the one right before it would've made a better impact to end the album, but overall, no damage was done.

"Beyond the Scars" is thoroughly enjoyable, and the weaker moments, which are few, should only be considered weaker in the context of the album itself, which is a cut above most modern Hard Rock ventures, its emotional potency perfectly matching the musical prowess displayed.