Living Scars

The American hard rock scene continues to go from strength to strength. Thanks in part to the radio airwaves, more and more bands are coming through, and they are being given the exposure that they desperately need.

You only need to check out Sirius Octane, whose weekly charts feature a who’s who of rock and alt. metal royalty- Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack down to Three Days Grace, Nonpoint and RED, to name just a few.

Of course, the music you hear on these channels is well produced, giving that polished sound that can bring in new listeners, but every so often, you come across a band, or record, that doesn’t have that big budget to make such an album.

Step forward Living Scars. You probably won’t have heard them on the radio, unless there’s a tiny station somewhere around Cedar Creek, Texas. You won’t have seen them on the TV, as there aren’t any promo videos available (yet). Sometimes just word of mouth, or in this case, finding by accident can reveal a refreshing delight you may not have thought possible, and that delight is Rise, the debut record from the Christian influenced hard rock trio.

Living Scars consists of Chandler and Parker Crook and Greg Hoffman, and at a combined age of only 52, this young band show immense talent for writing soaring melodies, at times vicious guitar hooks and bombastic drum parts, whilst producing some of the catchiest uplifting choruses you could ever want to hear.

“When It All Burns Down” starts with a harmonious intro before the first burst of rasping riffs and lively drumming takes over. Parker Crook – just a sixteen year old frontman – shows no sign of nerves as his soft vocals take center stage.

“Change” confirms that after only two songs, you are listening to a band who are the real deal. Well-constructed verses trade heaviness with melody, and another excellent chorus makes this a sure fire radio hit, if given the chance.

“Rise” features an enriching lyrical range that also features some crushing vocal screams from the bands’ pal Adam Renteria, which adds to the emotion and the positive message that the song sends out.

“Make Me Whole” has a nice piano undertone throughout, and Parker’s best vocal performance dominates the dirty guitar riffs. He may not have the strongest voice in rock today, but his passion and sentiment cannot be questioned.

The stunning “Never Said Goodbye” would be a huge hit had it been written by Christian rockers RED or We As Human, for example. A haunting intro gives you the feeling that something epic is coming our way, and as the thrashing yet addictive instrumental attacks the ears, you know you are hearing something special. With perfect switches of pace all the way through, starting with steady verses, the transformation to hard and heavy seems effortless.

“Not About” and “Pull Me Out” are more straightforward rock tracks in comparison to what has come before, and the final highlight comes in the form of “If We Ever Meet Again”, a slow and brooding ballad, full of delicate sauntering vocals and atmospheric bass, the song builds up to one final crescendo of melodious noise, and this makes a fitting end to Rise.

Living Scars definitely have Christian rock elements, although not as heavy as some of the more popular acts out there, but they have something in their locker that makes Rise a stunning debut. Production-wise, it is rough around the edges. There is no super editing to make certain moments bigger or louder, it is a raw and honest release that lets the music speak for itself.

Living Scars deserve to be on the radio, they deserve a record deal- they deserve exposure, so get on iTunes, download the record, and listen to a band whose future starts now.

Genre: Hard Rock, Christian Rock

Band:
Parker Crook- Vocals
Chandler Crook- Drums
Greg Hoffman- Guitar

Track Listing:
1. When It All Burns Down
2. Change
3. Broken Mess
4. Rise (feat. Adam Renteria)
5. Make Me Whole
6. Never Said Goodbye
7. Nothing To Lose
8. Not About
9. Pull Me Out
10. If We Ever Meet Again

Record Label: Independent Release

Website: www.livingscarsmusic.com

Hardrock Haven Rating: 9/10 - Matt Karpe

I wrote in the album review for Rise that every so often you come across a band or album (by mistake) that takes you by surprise. That was the case when I discovered Living Scars, a relatively unknown Christian Hard Rock band from a little place called Cedar Creek, Texas.

Rise is a debut record that is raw and natural, and I took it upon myself to try and help Living Scars get some more exposure because they need it, but more importantly, they deserve it.

Luckily, all three members participated in the interview …

HRH: First of all, thank you for taking the time to talk to HRH, how are you doing today?

LS: Doing great. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

HRH: Rise has recently been released, with 10 tracks of high quality hard rock. How pleased are you with how the record turned out?

LS: We’re extremely happy with the album. A lot of hard work and long nights went into this album, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the end result.

HRH: Rise doesn’t have the massive production compared to some of the more distinguished acts out there, but I think the rough-around-the-edges effect makes this record that little bit more special. Where was the record produced, and how long did the process take?

LS: Thank you. We definitely tried to give this record a unique sound, and the record was produced at toy car studios over a period of 8 months.

HRH: There are some haunting intro’s used, like a calm before the storm feeling, before the songs explode into action. What was the thinking behind using such delicate openings?

LS: We really wanted each song to have its own individual character and surprise our listeners with something they wouldn’t hear from us or the “hard rock” genre.

HRH: For a young band starting out, the song writing quality is really impressive. How important do you feel it was to give everything for this album?

LS: It was incredibly important for our first full length album to be well rounded and powerful, and it wasn’t that difficult to put all we had into something we have a deep passion for.

HRH: Each song has a memorable chorus. Was this a genuine attempt to try and break into the rock mainstream, especially as America has a good number of radio stations intent on giving exposure to newer artists?

LS: On one hand, yes we were trying to create songs that are memorable but we still try to maintain a certain level of independence and make something you haven’t heard yet. We try to make music that’s easy to listen to as well as easy to relate to.

HRH: I presume, as a band starting out, you must have a dedicated fan base that will surely only grow larger. What was their reactions upon hearing Rise?

LS: Like you said, we are a young band but our fan base is definitely getting stronger day by day. So far the reaction to listening to Rise has been extremely positive.

HRH: So what does 2015 hold in store for Living Scars?

LS: Honestly, we’re not sure. We’ve got some new songs in the works and plan on playing more shows around Austin, but no telling what God has in store for us this year.

HRH: Thank you once again for talking to HRH, and finally, why should people reading this go and check out Living Scars?

LS: Our music is fast paced, hard hitting and relatable. Whether you like rock or not, we put a twist on the genre that we think you’re gonna like.

HRH: Thank you for your time and good luck for the future.

LS: Thanks Matt.

For more information go to www.livingscarsmusic.com.

Rise is available now on iTunes. - Matt Karpe