Scarecrow - Raise the Death's Head (2021)^{Release ID: 32069}

Despite the promise shown by the title track from Scarecrow's EP, Matt Harvey & co's second release in thirteen years is average at best.  The three tracks offer little in the way of genuine bite or entertainment and although the title track has potential it is clear that this release is more like a single with a couple of b-sides added.

Desperate Hours starts like some Megadeth-like ballad with its picked string intro suggesting some technical edged thrash to appear soon.  Unfortunately, the track veers off to become some poor man's version of Machine Head and the vocals are so far back in the mix they are just laughable.  That promise of technical proficiency is soon a distant memory even with heavily borrowed from Metallica style lead work.

Closing track Victory? is a stronger effort.  It has a rampant thrashing energy that asserts some authority back to the offering but I am convinced they got the vocal mix wrong again here.  Matt's voice just sounds buried and it is a distraction to try and focus on them.  Having a plethora of "stars" from Death Angel and Exhumed does not guarantee brilliance I know, but still this is disappointing.