Review: Interrogate – Scarred For Life (2009)
Northern Ireland’s Interrogate is not what I’d call an original commodity. In fact, these Europeans sound like their continent’s equivalent of our Diecast with a strong hardcore and melodic base. Now considering I am a fan of Diecast (save for Internal Revolution), this comparison is not only apt, but encouraging for this reviewer.
Before I begin, most classic metal fans will be immediately turned off by this release. Interrogate is new age metal for a younger generation, embracing as I mentioned earlier, a healthy dose of melody in a very poppy way. Unfortunately, this blatant support for pop music is what drives down Interrogate’s stock for me; basically their melody is their biggest weakness. Metal and melody are obviously not mutually exclusive, any metal fan worth their salt knows that, but when your sound is honed for mainstream audiences (whether its a conscious effort or not), your appeal tends to lessen as a result. I will get to the pros of Scarred For Life, but I have to stress that there are many moments of simplistic melodic schlock that act more like an invading cancer than a catchy chorus or breakdown. Essentially, Scarred For Life would be a remarkably better album without its melodic tendencies. However, this CD is not a complete waste. In fact, the heavy moments on this record are not bad at all.
Metalcore is a well worn path these days, but the aggression and impact it creates is very obtrusive and effective, much of which I enjoy. Interrogate, while not perfect in their assault, are on to something with the aggressive riffs they have created. They clearly embrace modern metalcore and know how to write a heavy riff to make people take notice, but they don’t stick with it. Songs like “Sorrow Remains” is utterly generic and inferior modern rock that is more akin to modern Mudvayne or Stone Sour than a metal band. This song, as well as the melodic portions scattered throughout really confuse me, because this band is not going to gain any real credibility in the international scene if they don’t pick a direction. The double bass and ferocity in “This Bruise” is serious stuff until the damn clean vocals kick in which totally destroys the momentum. Melody is useful, but using modern rock interludes that would easily find a home on MTV is not going to win you a lasting loyal fanbase.
Essentially, I feel like Interrogate want to become Internal Revolution era Diecast combined with Stone Sour when they SHOULD be aiming for Tearing Down Your Blue Skies at the very least in order to maintain their obvious favoritism towards melody but with a much heavier shot of metal. Because of the less than stellar melodic moments, I can’t say I enjoyed this album, but songs like “Choda” show the band does have a liveliness to them that gives them some credibility. I only hope the band aims for a much a more underground assertiveness until they can find the right writing chops to successfully orientate more complex melodic passages that will give them mainstream success while cradling their credibility in the metal community.
EH…
Top Tracks: Choda, Losing It All
Similar Artists: Diecast, All That Remains, Mudvayne, Stone Sour
1. Victim
2. Vermin
3. One Chance
4. Fall From Grace
5. Choda
6. Losing It All
7. Sorrow Remains
8. This Bruise
Andy Campbell – Vocals
Mark Johnston – Guitar
Darren Brown – Bass/backing vocals
Stephen Brown – Drums/backing vocals
Self Released
Review by CODY
