What can modernity bring to Metal styles and bands?

This answer is simple: look to the past, and have an idea of what happened with Metal when the 70s ended and the 80s came, than the 90s, and our days...

Yes, Metal has this interesting and passionate feature: you can do a work that is on a way that was used on the past, or you can look into the future. Both ways have bad and good results alike. It's a matter of trying to do your best.

But to the Greek quintet SCAR OF THE SUN, from Athens, the best seems to be not enough. Their second album, "In Flood", isn't only a collection of excellent songs, but they are really trying to bring something new in terms of music, honoring the Hellenic roots!

They can be named simply as Modern Metal, because they mix influences from traditional Heavy Metal, Gothic Rock and some extreme Metal influences. But the way they create their songs is lovely, hooking us to each one of them, with personality, elegance and weight. It's truly different from what we are used to hear on Metal scene worldwide by now!

The sound quality is near perfection, due the works done by Rhys Fulber (production), Stamatis Koliousis and Van Labrakis (both worked on mixing and mastering). A fine quality of sound, that mixes weight and clearness alike, keeping the aggressive moments mixed with aggressive and heavy ones. And the instrumental tunes were chosen wisely.

The album has 10 perfect songs, all of them having their own values. But I can point as their finest songs to the hooking "Among Waters and Giants" (with hooking melodies, great guitars and enriched with different moments), the excellent guitars and technique insight on the charming "An Ill-Fated Wonder" (what lovely and excellent melodies, along with fine vocals with tunes that remind Mr. V from VINTERSORG in some moments), the introspective and tender Goth Rock influences shown on "Sand", the Heavy/Thrash Metal influence that is present on "The Truth About the Lies" (this mix between the aggressive insight like METALLICA with melodies from MOONSPELL is excellent, and the guitars are perfect once more), "Enemies of Reason" with its more melodic and accessible feeling (enriched by tender and fine vocals), their excellent version for an old DEPECHE MODE classic, "Walking in My Shoes" (the is truly accessible, but here gained a more technical and heavy outfit, with fine keyboards, and bass and drums); and the rich on details and changes of atmosphere "In Flood" (the contrast between harsh moments with tender and clean one is fantastic). Even their bonus track, "The Ghost Peril", is excellent, elegant and filled with an introspective and heavy essence.

"In Flood" is another excellent album of this year.