Their label describes them as modern Thrash Metal. I simply describe them as a Death / Thrash band. Is this really new? Not really. What Scaar deliver has been heard before by acts like Machine Head and Pantera. Those two aforementioned acts have had a major impact on the music of Scaar, and I can't really blame them.
The band was formed by guitarist Alf Johansson and singer Alex Jonsson in early 1999. Bass player Mats Vassfjord and drummer Richard Holmgren joined shortly thereafter to complete the lineup. All four members have been active in numerous local bands in the Eskilstuna / Vδsterεs area for years, before joining forces to form Scaar. Prior to this release they had already circulates a self financed album.
The Second Incision contains all those elements of albums like Burn My Eyes (Machine head) or Vulgar Display Of Power (Pantera). Not so fast songs, razor sharp guitars, rotted vocals (with a dash of melodic ones), some nice solos... are all these enough? Not really, looking at the album as a unit there aren't any visible faults. The songs sound well written, there are always some clever ideas (especially in the guitar parts) and the vocal changes here and there keep the level of interest pretty high. However no mater how hard their label may try to convince me that this is something fresh, the odor of this album cries out yesterday's news.
Yeah, it has a good production and a repulsive front cover. The problem remains the same: there are plenty of other bands out there playing the same thing and offering a much better deal. Scaar need to work more if they're going to convince me.