Scarve music CDs. The Undercurrent is a thunderous and futuristic set of heavy metal from the (decidedly un-scarily named) French band Scarve, who have been described as "new age" heavy metalists. Despite that description, there is a lot here that is typical of the dark metal genre: growling vocals, martial drum batteries, and storm clouds of guitar. The dark cacophony of "Endangered" is straight-ahead modern death metal, but "The Plundered," with its high-speed expanding and contracting rhythms and wheeling guitar dynamics, hints at something more exciting (and perhaps puts the "new age" into the band's new age metal). Overall, this is a strong collection of versatile metal, and particular attention should be paid to the precise and bombastic drum attack of Dirk Verbeuren, one of the standout drummers in the European metal scene. ~ Erik Hage Recording information: Blueflame Production, Uppsala, Sweden; Hell's Kitchen Studios, Nancy, France. Scarve: Sylvain Coudret, Patrick D. Martin (guitar); Loic Colin (bass guitar); Pierrick Valence, Dirk Verbeuren, Lawrence Mackrory. Personnel: Pierrick Valence, Lawrence Mackrory (vocals); Dirk Verbeuren (drums).

Scarve discography. One of France's most talented and trailblazing heavy metal bands, Nice's Scarve arrived at a true milestone with the eclectic black metal of their third album, 2004's Irradiant. In fact, if the album has one glaring fault, it's assimilating too many extreme metal devices into its many-colored spectrum, but since when is variety a bad thing? At least as long as the artist in question knows when to say "when," and, except for their blatant Meshuggah tribute number, "Asphyxiate" (with its off-kilter drum patterns, minimalist tonality, and the Swedes' own Fredrik Thordendal providing the solo), Scarve usually do, tempering their restless black metal style-hopping with just enough control to keep the songwriting in focus. The deadly fusion of Strapping Young Lad's restless creative spirit and Samael's industrial black metal clearly inspires initial offerings like "Mirthless Perspectives," "An Emptier Void," and the title track, all of which also bristle with unexpectedly musical ...

Scarve songs. Track Listing of songs: Emulate the Soul; Alteration; Crustscraper; Capsized; Resonating Cycle; Path to Apoptosis; Futile Resilient; Serpent Speech; Infertile Ways; Day After; Blackloader;

Scarve CD discography. One of France's most talented and trailblazing heavy metal bands, Nice's Scarve arrived at a true milestone with the eclectic black metal of their third album, 2004's Irradiant. In fact, if the album has one glaring fault, it's assimilating too ...