SCARVE -

SCARVE - LUMINIFEROUS - LISTENABLE/WWIII
If there is a meaning in the English language for Scarve, then drop me a note. It could be a combination for two words, say scary and carve or more likely scar and carve. Luminiferous means emitting light which can only be taken ironically in the context of this act. For this album, from the hitherto unknown Frenchmen, is dark, dark, dark. The band is evidently constructing music that borrows from both genres of metal and industrial. Imagine effects drenched in echo, reverb and samples fighting their way unto Meshuggah, Darkane, Fear Factory and Strapping Young Lad. Produced by Daniel Bergstrand who has more or less produced most of the above-named bands, Scarve's second album is brutal, blasting brash and brazen. The vocals are inspired by both ambient and death metal bands and the musicians flying in all directions simultaneously. It is mechanically layered cacophony. Watch for a cover of Entombed's Serpent Speech from the Hollowman EP too Lyrically, according to the backside of the CD, the band is singing about "the dangers of nanotechnology and genetic manipulation." If true, then one hopes fans pay attention to the words as well as the music - Ali "The Metallian"

SCARVE - THE UNDERCURRENT - LISTENABLE  
France’s Scarve has carved itself a reputation amongst fans of the ambient industrial metal sub-genre, and deservedly so given its sound, but there is no sugar-coating the band’s emulation of the sound originally conceived by Strapping Young Lad. The similarities are too many.
The Undercurrent might truthfully not be a pure metal favourite, but the Nancy-based group expertly crafts its music adding minute details, vocals arrangements and complex patterns not easily repeated. The vocal trade-off between Pierick Valence (since departed) and Lawrence Mackrory (newly introduced here) supply the kind of ambient and clean sound and guttural aggression fans would expect after the departure of Guillaume Bideau in the middle of the album’s recording session. The guitars are mostly resident in the background, although there is no denying the subtle shades inserted into nearly every minute. The bass is prominent and progressive. The drumming of tom-man-for-hire Dirk Verbeuren is as technical as his nomadic existence justifies. Unfortunately, the sum of the chugging and churning parts is less then the individual contributions. Never assuming the full guise of a heavy metal band (A Few Scraps Of Memories is schizophrenic in this regards), the music of Scarve never overcomes its belaboured feel. While scraps of industrial metal shard scurry vehemently off specific songs, the entire effort does not a powerful statement make. Fans of newer Darkane, Soilwork and SYL will find much to love here, although not the same could be said about discovering anything new. - Ali “The Metallian"