Endgame

Different albums work for different reasons. The most commonly praised virtues of legendary albums generally have to do with originality, setting up a technique or concept for use by future artists. But one could also say that there are other paths to musical success: what of Dark Angel's 'Darkness Descends'? In that we have a tremendously revered LP that, when all is said and done, really presents nothing particularly inventive. And yet it is one of the most beloved albums in thrash history.

It is rather in the vicinity of Dark Angel that Soulscar treads with their third album 'Endgame'; not musically, of course, but in a similar aesthetic of distillation. Soulscar actually makes a fairly daring move with this release: they ignore genre fusion and other such novelty almost entirely, instead depending entirely on songwriting and instrumental skill to carry them through the 40+ minutes of this disc. Other bands do this, but much more unintentionally than on here. From the opening thrash riffs of 'Identity', we know that Soulscar is only here to rock out.

If you're looking for the new 'In The Nightside Eclipse', go away. 'Endgame' is in no way, shape or form designed to add anything monolithic to the metal scene. It's here purely to make fast, heavy, enjoyable melodic death metal. And quite frankly, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with the acoustic intros on tracks like 'Synesthete' and the weird, punky opening of 'Endgame I', because it concentrates on what it's here to do effectively instead of striving and quite possibly failing to do something more. Understand: there is value to pragamatism at times.

As soon as you hear a track like 'Hindsight', you'll know whether you're the target audience for 'Endgame' or not. If not, walk away and don't take another look. But if you're looking for simple, catchy melodeath that isn't quite as bad as most Gothenburg these days, pick it up.

(Originally written for www.metal-divinity.tk)