Scorched – Echoes of Dismemberment

After a demo and a couple of splits, American death metal band Scorched is finally about to release their debut album. And while those other types of releases are good for getting a band’s name out there, Scorched is really the type of band who is more likely to shine on a full-length. The reason for this is that they’ve crafted their own identity even before the music plays. Listening to Scorched is like watching a horror movie, which should be evident from the thrilling cinematic artwork.

The music that complements this visual is appropriate, as Scorched uses numerous creepy interludes to build a haunting atmosphere that spills over into the full-length death metal songs. The most apt comparison would be to Autopsy, who has a similar predisposition towards creating truly sickening music, but Scorched takes this a step further. As subgenres become more diluted over the decades, sometimes they lose what truly made them great, but Scorched has not forgotten this. They bring us back to a time when death metal was truly evil. The riffs on this release are twisted and make considerable use of uncommon intervals to create a bone-chilling effect.

Like most death metal, “Echoes of Dismemberment” is best enjoyed as an entire listen. The album is not devoid of individual highlights though, with “Craving Human Remnants” being the clear standout. This track opens with a wild guitar solo that could get even the most undead zombies moshing. Many of the other tracks trudge along with more than enough variety in tempo and riffing to keep your interest for the record’s duration. While interludes typically detract from the main focus of a record, they actually enhance the experience for Scorched. This makes “Echoes of Dismemberment” a very tight 40-minute album. 

Even if one were to ignore the unique qualities of this record, it is still a reliable death metal album. Of course, it is these identifiers that help Scorched rise above other bands in the scene. Regardless, “Echoes of Dismemberment” still provides brutality, aggression, and even some doomier moments. Though one might write the band off as a bit gimmicky, they never sacrifice quality (and let’s be honest here, nobody is playing death metal to make money or achieve fame). For these reasons, “Echoes of Dismemberment” is worth spinning at least a few times.

Be sure to check out and like Scorched on Facebook!

Highlights

"Craving Human Remnants"

"Autopsy Incomplete"

Final Rating

4.0/5 or 80%. 

Written by Scott