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Review: 'Skarlett Riot'
'Invicta'   


-  Genre: 'Rock' -  Release Date: '7th May 2021'

Our Rating:
Sometimes, the more important, the more dramatic, the more bursting with emotional a record is, the more deflating and disappointing the experience.

Skarlett Riot create surging rock tunes with immense drama, much of which is derived from the extreme contrasts that define their sound, as they balance nu-metal chug riffing with some nagging technical lead lines. The dual vocals, however, are the most obvious contrasting counterpoints, with Skarlett’s clean but full-lunged and emotionally-wrought lead vocals contrasting with the gnarly, guttural growls and snarls of the backing vocals that come courtesy of bassist Danny and guitarist Tim.

But part of the problem is that it leads to a lack of identity: are they a dark, uber-heavy metal band, or hard rock with a gothic twist? The verses tend to be one, the verses the other. And herein lies the other obstacle, for want of a better word: the dramatic tension created by those contrasts soon becomes predictable, and the excitement grows quite ordinary. Put another way, repetition diminishes impact, and pulling the same trick stops having that ‘wow’ factor the third, fourth, sixth time around. What’s more, their touchstones of Asking Alexandria, In This Moment, and Bullet for My Valentine are spot on. The production’s slick as, and chuck in some Evanescence and you’ve got the full picture. Which raises the question: what do they bring to the party?

For all the attack of the percussion, all of the fast and furious fretwork, all of the dynamic range, ‘Invicta’ rapidly becomes quite formulaic – not to mention overblown, thanks to some hyperenergised guitar solos and the lack of variation in the lead vocals. Passion and power are positive traits, but there’s simply no let-up, and it’s like someone shouting in our face for three quarters of an hour. Initially, you’re shocked, but before long you’re just ground down.

For all that, when they do change the pace and toss in an epic slow-burning anthem, as they do with ‘Into Pieces’ it’s well-executed, and make no mistake, Skarlett Riot know how to sling a hook. And when they do hit the heartstings with a colossal anthem, as they do with slow-burner ‘Falling’, they’re in the clouds and up there with the absolute best. Skarlett Riot are one of those bands whereby if you like… you will LOVE them. They’ve totally nailed what they do, and know their market, and I’m not going to knock that.

  author: Christopher Nosnibor

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