Scar Chamber – ‘Ugly On The Inside’

(Kivel Records)

There is something wonderfully unfashionable about a great Melodic Hard Rock album. While much of modern rock seems determined to chase trends, strip away the rough edges and polish everything until it gleams, Scar Chamber arrive with their fists clenched, guitars cranked and attitude firmly set to maximum. Ugly On The Inside is an album that understands what makes this genre so enduring: big riffs, huge hooks, strong melodies, plenty of attitude and, above all else, songs that make you want to turn the volume knob clockwise.

From the opening moments, Scar Chamber make it abundantly clear that subtlety isn't necessarily high on the agenda. This is muscular, guitar-driven rock with enough melody to keep the hooks firmly lodged in your head. The riffs have plenty of crunch, the rhythm section provides a solid foundation and the production gives everything enough room to breathe without taking away the raw energy that makes the album so enjoyable.

What really impresses about Ugly On The Inside is the balance between aggression and accessibility. This isn't an album that simply bludgeons you with heavy guitars from beginning to end. Beneath the hard-rocking exterior is a strong melodic sensibility, with choruses designed to be shouted back from the crowd and vocal melodies that stick around long after the music has stopped. Scar Chamber understand that the best hard rock doesn't need to sacrifice melody in order to sound powerful.

And powerful this album certainly is.

There is a real sense of swagger running throughout Ugly On The Inside. Scar Chamber sound like a band having an absolute blast making this record, and that enthusiasm is infectious. There is a dirty, streetwise quality to the music, but it never becomes unnecessarily bleak. Instead, the band injects plenty of rock 'n' roll attitude into proceedings, giving the album a personality of its own.

Ron Freschi’s guitars are obviously one of the major attractions. Crunchy rhythm work provides the backbone while the lead playing adds plenty of colour, ensuring that the album never feels musically flat. There is enough variation in the arrangements to keep things interesting, but Scar Chamber wisely never lose sight of the fact that this is supposed to be a ROCK album. The guitars are meant to be heard, the drums are meant to hit hard and the choruses are meant to be sung loudly.

Mission accomplished.

Jeff Winslow’s vocal performance is another major strength. There is plenty of character and attitude in the delivery, perfectly suited to the band's harder-edged approach. Rather than going for an overly polished performance, the vocals retain a sense of grit and personality that fits the material beautifully. You believe the words being sung, and that makes a huge difference when an album is dealing with themes of frustration, defiance and life in the real world.

There is also an enjoyable bluesy streak running through some of the material. Scar Chamber aren't afraid to let their Melodic Hard Rock roots mingle with classic rock and blues influences, and this gives the album an earthy quality that prevents it from sounding like a generic modern rock production. There is enough classic DNA here to satisfy old-school rock fans, while the songwriting remains accessible enough to appeal to anyone discovering the band for the first time.

The title Ugly On The Inside is particularly appropriate because there is a certain darkness lurking beneath the surface of the record. Yet this isn't misery for misery's sake. Instead, Scar Chamber take the frustrations and ugliness of everyday life and turn them into something energetic and ultimately uplifting. There is a sense of fighting back rather than simply surrendering to the negativity.

That attitude is probably what makes the album so much fun.

Ugly On The Inside also benefits from excellent pacing. The album doesn't feel like a collection of songs thrown together simply to fill a running time. There is a natural flow from beginning to end, with heavier moments balanced by more melodic passages and enough dynamic variation to prevent listener fatigue. Even the closing moments feel like a deliberate conclusion rather than an afterthought.

A suitably explosive way to kick things off, ‘Warpath’ wastes no time establishing Scar Chamber's hard-rocking credentials. Crunchy guitars, pounding drums and a swaggering vocal delivery immediately grab your attention. There's plenty of melody beneath the muscle, while the chorus has the kind of punch that demands to be played loud. A statement of intent and a damn good one at that.

The attitude levels rise another notch with ‘Bring It On’, an energetic rocker that sounds tailor-made for the live stage. The guitars have plenty of bite, while the rhythm section keeps everything moving at a brisk pace. The chorus is instantly accessible and the whole thing has a wonderfully defiant feel. Scar Chamber clearly aren't here to play quietly.

‘Ugly On The Inside’ gets straight to the heart of what makes this album work. There's grit, swagger and a slightly darker edge to the performance, but the songwriting remains highly melodic. The vocal delivery carries plenty of character, while the guitars provide a suitably muscular backdrop. It's a strong representation of the band's sound and a fitting centrepiece for the album.

Here's where the band's blues-rock influences come firmly to the forefront. ‘Foul Mouth Blues’ has a dirty, loose-limbed quality that gives the album another dimension. The guitars sound particularly tasty here, while the vocal performance drips with attitude. It's rough around the edges in exactly the right way and has plenty of old-school rock 'n' roll swagger.

A darker and more urgent offering, ‘Sky Is Falling’ brings a real sense of tension to proceedings. The guitars remain heavy, but there's a strong melodic thread running through the arrangement. The chorus provides the necessary release, creating a great contrast between the verses and the bigger vocal moments. One of the album's more dramatic performances.

This is Scar Chamber at their most anthemic. ‘Alive In The Real World’ combines muscular hard rock with an infectious melodic approach, resulting in a chorus that's difficult not to join in with. There's an uplifting quality beneath the gritty exterior, making this one of the album's most accessible moments without ever sacrificing the band's attitude.

Now we're talking! ‘30 & Dirty’ is a full-on rock 'n' roll swagger-fest, packed with attitude and infectious energy. The guitars have a wonderfully grimy edge, the rhythm section hits hard and the vocal performance sounds like it was recorded with a mischievous grin. A proper beer-in-the-air, volume-on-eleven rocker.

There's a more serious tone to ‘While America Sleeps’, with Scar Chamber showing that they can deliver something with a little more weight. The arrangement builds nicely, allowing the vocals and guitars to create a sense of urgency. It's still unmistakably hard rock, but there's a darker atmosphere lurking underneath the surface.

‘Torn’ introduces a more emotional side to the record without abandoning the band's trademark heaviness. The melodies are particularly strong here, giving the song a memorable quality, while the guitars provide plenty of punch. The vocal performance brings genuine feeling to the material, making this one of the album's more rounded compositions.

A strong way to bring the main album to a close. ‘What I'm Trying To Say’ combines melody, grit and emotion into a satisfying finale. The guitars remain suitably powerful, but it's the vocal hooks that really stand out. There's a sense that Scar Chamber have saved something special for the final statement, leaving the listener wanting more. A fitting conclusion to an excellent slice of Melodic Hard Rock.

For fans of melodic hard rock, this is exactly the sort of record that deserves to be played loud. It has the riffs, the hooks, the attitude and the energy, but most importantly it has personality. Scar Chamber sound like a band with something to prove, and that hunger comes across in every note.

In an age when far too many rock albums are polished to the point of blandness, Ugly On The Inside is a welcome blast of character and attitude. It doesn't pretend to reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. Scar Chamber take the ingredients that have made Melodic Hard Rock such a beloved genre and give them a healthy dose of grit, swagger and modern energy.

Turn it up, let the guitars roar and enjoy the ride.

A gritty, hook-filled slab of Melodic Hard Rock with attitude to spare. Scar Chamber may be Ugly On The Inside, but there's plenty to love on the outside.

7/10

Essential Track – ‘Ugly On The Inside’

Review By Woody