"Gold" is a more than appropriate term for Scour's newest release on Nuclear Blast records, because this is record is just absolutely filled with it. An absolute black metal masterpiece from an American supergroup. This newest LP from Phil Anselmo and company is an early contender for best record of the year, not just in the black metal category but in extreme metal overall.
"Blades," the second single off the record, you'd swear came straight from Western Norway. The dueling tremolo guitars at the hands of Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index, Cast The Stone) and Derek Engemann (Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals, Cast The Stone, ex-Cattle Decapitation) provide a chilling, yet familiar soundscape to those of us who grew up appreciating the signature Scandinavian brand of alternate picking. Similar sonics are found on "Coin," as well as "Evil," which also brings in a particularly hefty layered wall of sound with the guitars.
While the backbone of Scour is, without a doubt, black metal, what makes Gold particularly interesting are the little elements of death and grind that the band throws in here and there. There is especially apparent on "Infusorium." Scour honors their black metal roots, yet takes the music forward into a fresher, modern sound.
Tracks like "Invoke" will evoke a smile or two with their deliberately over the top 90's-inspired black metal lyrics, with lines like, "Invoke the Master's goat. All hail Satan! Be at one with hell. Give the body to Satan!"
Brothers John Jarvis (Agoraphobic Nosebleed, All Will Fall, ex-Pig Destroyer) and Adam Jarvis (Misery Index, Lock Up, Pig Destroyer) put together a downright brutally vicious set of tracks to comprise the take-no-prisoners rhythm section, but with the Jarvis' you wouldn't expect anything less. Gary Holt from Slayer and Exodus also guests on a solo.
Recorded in 2023 and 2024, the LP sounds great in terms of the mix, which was crafted by Dennis Israel. It was mastered, appropriately, in Sweden by Jens Bogren. While the record doesn't feature a particularly bright listening experience, I'm glad that the band didn't choose to go the lo-fi route that so many black metal bands have been striving for. Overall this is a must buy, no-doubter!
