Album review : WITHERING SCORN – Prophets of Demise

July 2nd, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 07.07.23]

Withering Scorn is a band made up of experienced, successful heavy metal musicians, assembled by brothers, Glen and Shawn Drover, both ex Megadeth and Eidolon. They are joined by ex Fates Warning bass man, Joe DiBiase and vocalist Henning (Metallium) Basse.

Glen Drover’s ominous guitar arpeggios announce the band’s arrival as the album kicks off, very quickly transitioning to a thrashy, bass heavy riff. Some pretty classy lead guitar work cuts in and off we go, hurtling down the heavy metal highway, no holds barred, taking no prisoners, pulling no punches.

The 6 minute title track ‘Prophets Of Demise’, opens the album.

This is clearly a tight, tight outfit. The dynamic arrangements are marshalled with apparent ease. The songwriting is sharp and focused. And probably the album’s most attractive attribute is its refusal to dress the band’s music up as something else. It’s not overblown, it’s not art, it’s simply visceral, heads down heavy metal.

Drover’s classic metal songcraft keeps the motor running. Each song, most especially ‘The Vision’ and ‘Dethroned’ have a headbanging, foot-on-the-monitor directness, not unlike Iron Maiden at their most crowd pleasing.

Occasionally the band decelerate, ramping up the atmospherics for a thundering, slow burn groove. ‘Ancient Desire’s tribal rhythms add splashes of colour to the band’s monochrome stylings.

But when they pick up the pace, punch hard and place a premium on spare, razorcut riffs and splintering rhythms (and, in fairness, sturdy melodies) on tracks like ‘Dark Reflection’ and ‘Never Again’, the music transmits a wider attraction beyond traditional genre borders. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

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