Scarecrow is a Heavy Rock Band from Russia. On November 13th, 2024, Scarecrow released their third independent full-length release, “Scarecrow III”. A band not only transports you to the sound of the past but also combines a blend of old and new, that would gratify Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Rush, and Jethro Tull fans.
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Scarecrow, Scarecrow III Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Scarecrow III
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Scarecrow and their album, Scarecrow III
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features powerful riffs, intricate solos, and melodic passages, with some tracks seamlessly merge heavy, aggressive guitar sounds with more melodic and atmospheric layers. The bass riffs are both melodic and rhythmic. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Interplay of commanding and vibrant energy, shifting from the rough edges of rock to smooth, melodic tones… The Third Sin—The Percussions: The drum work elevates the music’s intensity, blending fast-paced beats with groove-oriented patterns…
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion:
Music that doesn’t just evoke the essence of classic rock; it feels like a journey through time.
As soon as the listener presses the play button, the five-minute opening piece, The Saffron Skies Overture, greets the listener with a dramatic and almost doom-like, epic and Arabic orchestral piece. With this feeling of continuing one journey from the band’s EP, Golem.
As the listening continues their journey with the second piece, The Hymn, and the remaining seven pieces, that takes the listener on a lyrical journey through surreal landscapes and personal reflections
Scarecrow will captivate and ensnare you with its melodies, not solely through its entire collection of songs or even its opening number, but particularly with one fruit of art track: the over five-minute gem titled The Hymn. This piece transports listeners back to the golden era of Led Zeppelin, evoking a similar sound and spirit in its compositions and vocals, all while maintaining its own unique identity without imitating the legendary band.
With a duration of sixty minutes spread over nine tracks, this album transports listeners back to the iconic sound of Led Zeppelin while infusing elements of proto-doom, progressive, and heavy rock that are both haunting and mesmerizing. It’s evident that Scarecrow has evolved significantly, showcasing their growth in both musical and lyrical compositions. After delving into their EP Golem, and their early work. I noticed remarkable advancements in their songwriting, devilmanship, and instrumentation. However, it is their album Scarecrow III that clearly highlights their progress. In contrast to their earlier works, some tracks on Scarecrow III are longer and more cohesive, maintaining that signature prog-rock and proto-doom vibe reminiscent of Led Zeppelin. Yet carving out a unique identity that is epic, engaging, and rich in musical texture.
Scarecrow III showcases a rich tapestry of tones, moods, and musical elements, highlighted by the impressive guitar work of Max. His powerful riffs, intricate solos, and melodic passages infuse the music with a profound depth and complexity. Some tracks seamlessly merge heavy, aggressive guitar sounds with more melodic and atmospheric layers. The bass riffs from Elijah are both melodic and rhythmic, further enriching the overall sound. Meanwhile, Vadim delivers precise and energetic drumming that elevates the music’s intensity, skilfully blending fast-paced beats with groove-oriented patterns, enhancing the depth and complexity of the album’s tracks.
On vocal is Artemis, infusing the band’s sound with a commanding and vibrant energy. His vocal range is impressive, shifting from the rough edges of rock to smooth, melodic tones, enriching the album with a spectrum of emotions. The way Artemis channels feeling and intensity through his voice is essential to Scarecrow‘s identity. Songs such as “The Hymn” and “Eastern Nightmare” showcase his ability to adapt, as he effortlessly moves between fierce and melodic sections. His performance weaves a tapestry of complexity and connection, drawing listeners deeper into the music.
Along with the fruit of art composition and devilmanship, that is more than floored to perfection. Scarecrow III also provides the listener with a recording sound, that is floored to perfection, with crisp and pristine audio showcasing the meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the album.
If you liked the album Scarecrow, or Scarecrow II, you’ll almost certainly be thrilled by Scarecrow III. And for those who are fans of proto-doom, heavy rock, or bands like Rush and particularly Led Zeppelin, this release is right up your alley.
The album concludes with its final track, The Saffron Skies, an expansive composition that stretches over sixteen minutes. This piece takes the listener on a journey back to the beginning, featuring a timeless Arabic orchestral arrangement that leaves a lasting impression as the album draws to a close. We want to give a shoutout to Scarecrow for letting us review their album, Scarecrow III. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins of Scarecrow and their album, Scarecrow III
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia:
After diving into Scarecrow, Scarecrow II, and the new EP Golem, I was truly captivated by their unique sound and musicality. However, Scarecrow III took things to another level. It doesn’t just evoke the essence of classic rock; it feels like a journey through time.
What stood out to me was the remarkable growth of the band over the years, particularly in their songwriting and instrumentation. Each album carries its own distinct atmosphere, take a listener, and you find out, what I mean.
I must highlight again the fruit of art of their second track, The Hymn, and the sixth track, Eternal One. Both pieces left me speechless. The second track channels that iconic Led Zeppelin vibe, enhanced by Artemis‘s fruit of art vocals, while the sixth track features a hauntingly beautiful acoustic arrangement, again, showcasing Artemis‘s voice in a way that captures that magical Led Zeppelin essence.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork, captures the theme of the music and atmosphere, creating a visual representation of the album’s narrative. Especially the opening piece, The Saffron Skies Overture.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Scarecrow and their album, Scarecrow III. Therefore, this concludes Scarecrow and their album, Scarecrow III review.
Members
Artemis: vocals, harmonica, flute
Elijah: bass
Vadim: drums
Max: guitar
Track-Listing
01. The Saffron Skies Overture
02. The Hymn
03. Eastern Nightmare
04. The Foe
05. Rising Sands
06. Eternal Ones
07. The Turtle
08. The Saffron Skies
