Album of The Week: Once Human- Scar Weaver

 LA- Based quintet Once Human return with their third studio effort, Scar Weaver, due out next Friday (Feb 11) via EarMusic Records.

The modern metal outfit was formed in 2014 by ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader and vocalist Lauren Hart. Bassist Damien Rainaud, drummer Dillon Trollope and newest recruit, second guitarist/songwriter Max Karon complete the line-up. Karon has brought a new creative force to the band's brutal and resilient style of metal with dynamic guitar breaks and lyrics based on pain, trauma, and darkness. 

One of the key components of this is the versatility of Lauren Hart's vocals that blend emotive clean vocals with hallowed harsh vocals.

The opener "Eidolon" is a testament to this. Hart snarls through all the rage and vitriol of a caged beast over sonic grooves and earth-shattering drums to send this album into full gear.

Next up is "Deadlock", a track that features Mader's ex-colleague in the guise of Machine Head vocalist Robb Flynn rapping over dense-guitar riffs, interchanged with Hart's guttural screams. Hart has stated her improvement was down to a tour with Kamelot. This shows because each vocal performance relay the true emotions she places behind the lyrics.

Another observation this writer can say is the immense guitar play Mader and Karon produces on each song. Each riff and solos are structured around the vocal performances and the seismic drumming by Trollope. An example of this is in the catchy "Where the Bone Lies", a track steeped full of anguish and suffering. The jagged guitar style bounces in tandem with Rainaud's bass, Trollope's explosive double blasts and Hart's powerful vocals.

There are tracks on this record that highlight Hart's cleaner vocals such as " Deserted", "Cold Arrival" and "Erasure", whilst the band explore assorted styles of metal such as the progressive elements of "Bottom Feeder" and final track "Cold in Arrival", a dark and gothic track.

Overall, Once Human have redefined themselves as a modern metal band with an edge. The tracks are well-written, and Lauren Hart has reached new levels for a contemporary female metal singer.

Words by Anselm Anderson

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Click below to watch the videos for 'Deadlock', 'Cold Arrival', and 'Erasure', plus all the band's socials to follow.

'Deadlock'

'Erasure'

'Cold Arrival'

Members:
Logan Mader
Lauren Hart
Damien Rainaud
Dillon Trollope
Max Karon

FOLLOW ONCE HUMAN:
Website: https://oncehumanofficial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oncehuman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncehuman