Dew Scented – Invocation – Review

Release Date: May 25th, 2010
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Genre: German Metal

Dew Scented, no not the smell of air during the morning in summer, the German metal band. The bands latest installment of I titled albums is Invocation, with twelve new thrash jams spanning forty-six minutes. Invocation dropped May 25th on Prosthetic Records and marks the bands eighth studio album. Starting off the riffs are hearty and make you wonder, why is Dew Scented huge the instruments on this are fantastic.

Than the vocals kick and through the first song its tolerable and than through two still headbanging along and by the third you saying to yourself is this guy monotone or what? Each track is filled with stellar riffs and classic thrash drumming but the vocals just drive the overall experience into the ditch and have you running for something that brings a bit more variety. It is the balanced attack of melody and thrash in tracks like “Downfall,” and the instrumental interlude “Totem,” that make Dew Scented shine.

Although the band has their shining moments the balance between melody and the thrash parade is not quite there. Also the vocal issue does not help improve the experience, while everything is good it also isn’t quite there while the solos and melody attempt to bring variety, the thrash attack does begin to feel a tad generic after a few runs through. But than again if you are aware of Dew Scented this is what has become the normal expectation.

A mix of melody and thrash with sub par vocals, the overall experience is good but not great with much room for improvement. Step one get a new vocalist, two blend in more melody, step three just a tad more variety to keep everything fresh. It’s definitely an intriguing listen but there it feels like a rusty car that runs smooth, the base is solid but the bells and whistles and shiny paint job aren’t there. ~James Terry

Score: 3.25/5

Track Listing:
1. Downfall 
2. Arise From Decay 
3. The Invocation
4. Have No Mercy On Us 
5. Artificial Life 
6. Condemnation
7. Totem 
8. Torn To Shreds 
9. Revel In Contempt
10. A Critical Mass 
11. Global Hysteria 
12. Slaves Of Consent 
13. Slaughterhouse