SCARDUST
Souls
Frontiers Music srl

The worlds is in a state of turmoil, the levels of uncertainty about a safe and peaceful future are at an all time low, so what better time is there for us to be saved by the shining beacon of light that is SCARDUST and their brand new album, “Souls”. A definitive, defiant collection of anthems for the future and a truly innovative symphonic progressive metal album for the ages.

SCARDUST were formed in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2015 having spent the previous two years going by the name of Somnia. They have released an EP, two full-length albums and a variety of singles which all lead us to the upcoming 3rd album, “Souls”, which is out on the 18th July via Frontiers Records.

The album begins with “Long Forgotten Song” and immediately you can tell that this is going to be something really special. The levels of musicianship on show here and throughout the entire album are mesmerizing. Every band member is a master of their craft and you can hear that they play from the heart as the attention to detail in the songs is exquisite. The delicate flourishes, the flare and precision, the emotion, they can all be felt with every single note that pours out of each song on the album. It is purely for the love of music that I choose to do these reviews and it takes a lot to leave me at a loss for words, but this album left me speechless. I actually just sat in awe and listened to it from start to finish four times in a row before I even began writing anything and what a joyous experience it was.

Noa might just be the best and most talented singer in metal right now. Her ability to capture you and keep you entranced is phenomenal, not to mention her technical prowess which is otherworldly. She can quite literally do it all, her vocals soar along beautifully but it’s her ability to switch between styles which is so impressive. One minute she is belting out notes which almost seem impossible to hit, then it’s a delicate whisper, a soulful groove, catchy pop passages, some infectious Disney-like melodies, harsh growls and of course, her infamous scat. It is by far the most impressive vocal performance I have heard and places her firmly in the same lofty company as Floor Jansen, Sharon den Adel, Simone Simons and Tarja to name but a few icons of symphonic metal.

The drums by Yoav Weinberg, the guitars of Gal Gabriel Israel and the keyboards of Aaron Friedland are just fantastic and it is clear that a lot of time and attention went into writing the songs as everyone gets their moment to shine throughout the album. I must however make a special mention of the bass by Orr Didi, he’s quite clearly a virtuoso and he steals the show on multiple occasions on the album with his incredible playing. The solo in “My Haven” being an excellent example. You also just need to watch one of their music videos to see how the nickname that I bestowed upon him of ‘happiest bassist in the world’ sticks so well.

Songs 2 through 5 were all released as singles for the album and offer a perfect glimpse into what you can expect from the album. “My Haven” has such a catchy chorus that it will have you singing it repeatedly. “RIP” is a fantastic headbanger with such a groove, you will be nodding along immediately. We are introduced to Noa’s harsh vocals in “RIP” and they do not disappoint, she uses them so well to really accent certain points of the song that just needs that extra bit of oomph. “Dazzling Darkness” is a beautiful ballad that fills us with hope and love before the TLV Orchestra joins the band on “Unreachable”, which could be the theme song to the next massive Disney hit. The way the melodies rise and build on each other leading into a jazzy interlude and then an instrumental break with both the bass and guitars giving us wonderful solos, is really outstanding.

“End Of The World” is a beautiful instrumental where Noa’s metal choir, the Hellscore, really shine. They have performed on every SCARDUST album and really play an integral part in shaping the signature SCARDUST sound. Ally Storch joins the band on “Searing Echoes” which is one of the most emotionally heavy tracks on the album. Ally plays an entire string quartet over the album but it is her incredible lead on the electric violin which turns this song into one of many album highlights.

“The Touch Of Life” trilogy, which brings the album to a close over three songs, is an absolute masterpiece. Ross Jennings features on “Part I – In Your Eyes” & “Part III – King Of Insanity” and his vocals add another satisfying dimension to the songs, seamlessly integrating and melding so well with Noa. The emotions are running high, the songs weave their magic and Noa’s vocals are once again on another level. The scat that she does in “Part II – Dance Of Creation” is wonderful, the vocal control is outstanding and one can only be absolutely enthralled by it all. The main melody hook from “Part I” makes a comeback in “Part III” and it helps give a sense of familiarity as it all draws to a close and we take a breath to try to fully understand the incredible music that we have just been so fortunate to experience.

SCARDUST have faced more trials than most bands but have kept their eyes firmly on their goals whilst creating and sharing with us some absolutely incredible music. This album needs to be heard, so grab a copy and share it with everyone. I am so excited to see where it takes the band as they deserve all of the plaudits heading their way with what is surely one of the best albums of the year and right up there with the very best albums ever. A true progressive symphonic metal masterpiece.

Russell Mulock-Bentley