Band: Symbolic
Title: Scarvest
Label: Twilight Vertrieb
Distribution: Twilight / Bertus
Release date: March 4th 2011
Review: CD

This review on Germany’s Symbolic is not about the thrashing Gothic Metal band from Meppen, Lower Saxony, yet the one from Eichstätt, Bavaria. Bavarian Symbolic were formed in 2004 and the band released their debut, called Enigma, in 2006 (self-release).
Scarvest is the sophomore release, recorded by the quartet (after finishing the album, a permanent bass player, Sebastian, joined) Stefan Pfaffel (g), Tobias Schill (d), Andreas Schiegl (g) and Bastian Löser (v), and having a total running time of forty three minutes. And as from the first seconds (opening track Everlasting), Symbolic show their true face: an angry one!
My first impression brought the Swedish scene to mind. The stuff largely put between Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, The Haunted and At The Gates, spiced with epic power à la Amon Amarth or Unleashed. But that’s not completely correct, of course. Because this album comes with more layers. But the band might draw influences as well from Death and Thrash Metal bands from Germany itself, of course, Denmark or Holland. And even then, Symbolic come with an own approach, and believe me: it’s a rather refreshing one! In spite of a modest old school-spirit, the whole does sound modern. And in spite of the technical song structures, the album isn’t that indigestible either. The guitar-driven tracks come with dual vocals, some fierce solos and a hammering rhythm session, most of the time rather fast and furious, yet without lacking to add melody. And some tempo-changes or differences in structure or melody are almost astonishing.
A few moments are laid-back – listen for example to the (short) instrumental song MySery, which includes acoustic guitars.
Scarvest catches and thrashes, it makes sense and it’s fun.

77/100

Ivan Tibos.