Review ONCE HUMAN ‘Scar Weaver’

Once Human release their third album ‘Scar Weaver’ these days and also this time the listener gets to hear a thunderous load of modern metal. The spectacle starts with ‘Eidolon’, a massive opener that makes some noise but never really gets out of the starting blocks. Next comes ‘Deadlock’ and the fact that Machine Head’s Robb Flynn contributes with a part also brings the track into proximity with the metal icons from Oakland. The opening trilogy is rounded off by the title track, a song that relies on groove and operates in the mid-tempo range.

With ‘Erasure’ the band put a heavy punch on the tracklist and you are surprised what front woman Lauren Hart can do with her voice. Those deep growls are impressive.

Those who prefer it a bit faster will be well served with the great well-done ‘We Ride’ before the album comes to an end with ‘Cold Arrival’ and ‘Only in Death’. The latter are back in the moderate tempo range and ‘Only in Death’ even includes clean vocals and melodic passages.

‘Scar Weaver’ is not a bad album, but it doesn’t stand out from the masses either. Much of it is predictable and rooted in genre origins. I dare to say that without the mention of Machine Head, Once Human would be an average metal band that one can listen to with enjoyment, but nothing more.