Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Silent Scythe
Title
Longing For Sorrow
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2003
Style
Heavy/Extreme
1/13/2004 - Review by: Anthony Burke
Silent Scythe - Longing For Sorrow - Independent Release - reviewed by: IcedMojo

Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Longing for Sorrow
3. Backstabber
4. My Only Family (My Only Enemy)
5. Old World Disorder
6. Suffer in Silence
7. To Each His Own
8. Feather
Silent Scythe--the band is loaded with raw ass kicking power. Unsigned, which plays a major factor in my thoughts; I believe that with the proper support and production assistance, Silent Scythe can and will do huge things in metal.

Created in 2001, this marks the bands second independent release. Led by Tommi Djukin (guitars and growls), and joined by Johan Strende (percussion and piano), Peter Henningson (acoustic and lead guitar), Tobbe Jansson (vocals), and Anders Frykebrant (bass), Silent Scythe has a lot of the right ingredients to be great, but, like I said, they lack the proper funding that a record label should provide to polish their records off.

Influenced by many types of metal, the band just wants to be labeled as pure metal. Melodic Death/Power/Thrash (what a combo!) is what I’d call this group. With all of that, it breaks down like this: Musically, their style can be described as similar to Hypocrisy, In Flames (pre-Reroute), Morbid Angel, and Slayer. Tracks such as “Longing For Sorrow”, “Backstabber”, and “Old World Disorder” beat your speakers to death and rattle your insides. The fast, heaviness is like the beating you give to you little brother or sister; it just pounds and pounds until you just get bored.

The other part to this equation is the vocal tracks of Tobbe Janson, he goes from power metal (which he is killer at) to thrash, sometimes in the same song. With tracks such as “Backstabber” and “My Only Family (My Only Enemy)”, striking with a thunderous Tim Owens like voice, that would impress Tim himself. I do wonder, though, about the vocal process with the other songs, (with the exception of “Feather” which is just a recording done while the band was drunk and partying). The sound is raw and powerful, and the background growls over the power vocals are awesome. I understand vast musical influence, but I am also under the impression that the flip-flop in styles makes the album difficult to follow. However, the something-for-everyone is a nice touch.

This was a band that I was shakey on at first, but after a few listens, it does tend to grow on you. Again, this is an opinion, but I think the band will be better served sticking with the raw, rough cut power vocals. The melodies on this album are to die for. I'm rating it a 6 out of 10, for mainly production reasons (although I realize this is no fault of Silent Scythe). I also feel that this album explores too broad a range of music and loses its edge.

Mostly, this is a powerful, in-your-face, kick-ass, pure adrenaline rush and I am looking forward to the next release!


--IcedMojo 01.13.04
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: SILENT SCYTHE
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Longing For Sorrow
2003
Independent
Anthony Burke1/13/2004
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: SILENT SCYTHE
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE
Tommi DjunkinAnthony Burke3/15/2004


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