So, Phil Anselmo has been at this for quite some time as evidenced by his gratuitously lengthy list of projects he has been involved with.  To be perfectly transparent, I've always liked Phil's side projects from DOWN to SUPERJOINT and all points in between.  Just a couple of months back, I wrote a review of his EN MINOR project (review can be found here: EN MINOR review for Metal Temple), a meditation on the intersection between dark depression, pills, and an extant admiration for larger than life musical luminaries such as LEONARD COHEN and NICK CAVE.  On the other end of the spectrum - completely, and in total Phil fashion, is this project, SCOUR.

SCOUR is complete Black Metal insanity plain and simple.  Phil is joined by members of his other band, the ILLEGALS, along with members of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED, LOCK UP, and MISERY INDEX.  Leave it to the Heavy Metal lifer to assemble such an all-star cast.  Keeping with the color theme established on their previous two Eps, this is appropriately titled "Black".  It doesn't get any more straight forward!

How aptly titled the first track, "Doom," is becomes apparent immediately with the ghoulish howl of an air raid siren to kick things off.  It would be impossible not to think of MARDUK after such an effect (check out "Werwolf," the first track off their last album), but SCOUR takes a more weaponized approach than the Swedes.  The intro to the song is one of those Black Metal moments where everything fits together perfectly, the militarized melee of exceptional riffs.  Despite the plainly frenetic beginning, there is a structure to the song replete with accentuated minor key riffs, and haunting, wailing single note melodies. The well-placed palm mutes set everything off and vocally, Anselmo alternates between a classic, menacing Black Metal snarl and punishingly low guttural grunts.  It is hard to think of a first track that has been so powerful all year long compared to this.

The following track, "Nail," is excellent as well with more exercises expanding the Black Metal vocabulary, but, "Propaganda," the third track, is an absolute highlight not to be missed.  Beginning with some nasty chugging, the band goes into a groove that takes just as much influence from Florida Death Metal as Norwegian Black Metal.  That specific influence I'm pointing to, though, is obviously MORBID ANGEL as this has their imprint firmly planted upon it.  It is a pulverizing assault combining the technical precision of Death Metal with the shades of Black Metal tone and ambiance.  Coming in just under two minutes, it is lean, but it is a heavy, impactful punch, nonetheless, straight to the gut.

The production should also be considered here.  In many ways, the album has a distinctly Death Metal sound - apart from the ever-ensuing, uniquely placed pal mutes, a technique not often heard in Black Metal.  I think what the band was aiming for, though, was the most abrasive yet modern mix possible.  Thus, the fact that Death Metal shines through has a lot to do with the sheer number of Death Metal bands that have come to embody that modern Metal sound, a number perhaps greater than any other corner of the Heavy Metal family tree.  The production takes these great songs and makes them deadly, legendary even.  Hearing the definition in the chords makes a big impact as well in the listening experience making those minor chords really ring out in as eerie a manner as possible as intended.

A final track to be mentioned is the fourth, "Flames".  Unlike the other songs, this one has a lethal break down that gives a nod to the old school.  Undoubtedly, one can hear the influence of classic NECROPHAGIA (a vastly underrated band Phil once played in alongside founder Killjoy, R.I.P.).  That riff alone makes the album worth its weight in gold to me.

At the end of the day, I'd love for this to be more than six songs.  Only two of those six eclipsed three minutes.  There is something to be said for brevity, though.  Particularly with the modus operandi of this project considered, to be an absolutely devastating weapon of mass destruction, it is an approach that does make sense.  Sadly, though, I hate I cannot include it in my best-of for the year because I only count full-lengths.  In this case, though, an honorable mention is definitely in store.  This is seriously a legitimate contender for most wicked band on the planet right now.