CoC : Scum - Purple Dreams & Magic Poems : Review

Scum - _Purple Dreams & Magic Poems_
(Black Mark, 1996)
by: Adrian Bromley (8 out of 10)

Album number two for Finnish death metallers Scum (a follow-up to 1994's _Mother Nature_) and it seems like we have a winner here. This effort is full of gems. Look no further than tracks like "Circus Of The Freaks" or "Flames Of The Silver Sea" or even "The Crest Of The Northern Wave" to see that this band is in no way able to be seen merely as a metal act. The precision sound and ace recording allows the music of PD&MP to promote a clear direction. The metallic edge to most of the songs seems to take on a transitional state as it goes from heavy, cumbersome riffs to tranquil almost hypnotic strides at a second's notice - truly captivating. It isn't about how harsh or loud, or even how demonic you can be anymore - it is how you can bring about emotions and provoke thoughts. Such is a standard call to duty provided by other great metal acts such as Paradise Lost, Pyogenesis and Mindrot. Carefully crafted but played with vigorous attention, the music here releases a lot and all the listener can do is fall witness to emotions thrown at them. Pick this one up metalheads.

(article published 9/2/1996)

ALBUMS
4/1/2010	A Erickson	8	The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood and Thunder