Soulscar is an interesting Canadian outfit who first made their mark with the somewhat lackluster “Character Assassination”, which was an album which boded well for the future, yet still was missing a certain something. Luckily, that “something” has been injected into their sophomore effort, entitled “Victim Impact Statement”, in spades.

That something is memorability and songwriting talent, which combines with the quartet’s already rock solid technical skills to create an imposing 10 track audio assault in the fine tradition of Swedish metal monsters such as Arch Enemy. The guitar tone itself is an almost perfect replica of the sound which launched a thousand ships, and possesses an infectious catchiness and likeability that should lend itself to many a Swe-dophile.

Incorporated within this melody is an added shot in the arm of good ol’ rock ‘n roll, as witnessed within the album’s opening track, “Unmade”, which definitely gets the foot tapping and the head banging. A neck-wrecking thrash vibe a la Carnal Forge is also prevalent within other standout tracks, such as “death anxiety” and “hell bitch”. Together with the band’s knack for heart wrenching lead playing and quiet acoustic harmonies, “Victim Impact Statement” should go a long way into converting North American fans of the Melodic Death sound Soulscar’s way.

In the end, my only complaint might be the somewhat thin sound of the drums, but that is only a minor complaint within the realms of this intensely enjoyable affair the band has carved up. If “Victim Impact Statement” is anything to go by, then Soulscar looks to have a bright and promising future ahead of them. A strong purchase for anyone remotely into this style, hands-down.

Melodic death metallers, Soulscar, from Vancouver, Canada have recently released their second full-length album, Victim Impact Statement, on Galy Records. The record starts off with the songs “Unmade” and “Death Anxiety”, which sound like a mix of Trivium, Arch Enemy, and Into Eternity. Both songs have mid-paced melodic riffs and heavier riffs that are faster but also having somewhat of a groove, hence the Arch Enemy reference. Andrew and Brent do the vocals, and this is where I compliment the band by doing a nice job between the high-growling vocals that remind me of Trevor of The Black Dahlia Murder, and the melodic vocals that remind me of Into Eternity’s vocalist. “Hell Bitch”, “To the Pain” and “Ultimatum” are more of the faster and even more aggressive tracks that take the listener back to 1995 when Slaughter of the Soul was released. But, I guess a lot of bands today are heavily influenced by the “Gothenburg” sound, so not much of a surprise there.

Soulscar do a good job of keeping the listeners interest because of the diversity and the nice grooves, kind of like what Shadows Fall does. Igor’s double-bass matches the rhythm guitar section the way Megadeth does, and for that I give them props as well. I recommended this album to all metal-heads. I think this album has the potential to be enjoyed by everyone because of the bands diversity, but if you’re into Arch Enemy, Shadows Fall and Darkest Hour you should especially check this out. I think the songs on this album that stood out the most were “Regressor” and “Cast Aside”.

Soulscar defy all expectations. One glance at the atrocious layout and front cover will be enough to put off most, and the slightest mention of singing in death metal immediately sets off the average metalhead’s "nu" alarm. Soulscar walk many a fine line, but manage to remain within the realms of good taste at all times. Blending the no-holds-barred thrash chops of At The Gates with the more melodic, hook-based edge of Soilwork, the band holds it down for an entire record purely on the strength of their melodies, which are catchy and involving even after multiple, overly critical listens. Whereas the average melodic death band wears their formula thin fast with quickly assembled, speedy tracks that end up blending hopelessly into one another, Soulscar aren’t afraid to inject groove and infectious cleans when necessary, while still maintaining an appropriate amount of prowess and technicality. Considering that this subgenre is for the most part dead (and if not, metalcore is driving the final nail into the coffin), it is frankly amazing that bands like Soulscar still exist, and even more so that this sounds as fresh and listenable as it does. Let Victim Impact Statement be a testament to the fact that anything can be pulled off — if you have the creativity and the initiative to stand apart from the pack. One of the strongest Canadian releases of 2004.

Full-length number two for Vancouver’s Soulscar finds the band honing their excellent melodic metal skills and adding in some new tricks to the mix. The production sound confounds right out of the gates unfortunately, a cold, clinical and compressed sound that eventually worms its way under the listener’s skin, for better or for worse. Once further investigation into the songs begins, all anyone can wonder is, what is stopping this band from being huge? And I can’t tell you, as the mixture of speedy thrash with melodic Gothenburg metal is filled with enough hooks and talented playing to please fans of Annihilator and (pick a name, any name) Dark Tranquillity (that’ll do) alike. What really impresses with this disc and makes it eclipse the band’s debut, Character Assassination, are the soaring melodic vocals from Soulscar mainman Andrew Staehling, which are delivered in a unique fashion that almost sounds like someone with a thick accent speaking backwards, and that’s cool by me. Tracks like "Death Anxiety," "Cast Aside" and the title track utilise that melodic edge to stunning results, while tracks like the unfortunately named "Hell Bitch" thrash with head down and blinders on, with equally enjoyable results. Big metal labels, are you listening? This is easily better than anything In Flames or Annihilator have released in years.

With Victim Impact Statement as Soulscar's second release, they've proven to make their mark on the Vancouver metal scene. Victim Impact Statement reminds me of Arch Enemy from the start, but with less cheesy guitar work and much more diverse vocals. After a quick chat with Brent Mackenzie, I got a better feel for what this album is and what is its purpose. Soulscar are by no means a big band. While they've generated a buzz in Vancouver, I don’t know of anyone outside the scene that has yet to embrace Soulscar. A big emphasis is on the word “yet”.

Mark my words, this is some great metal. The band has a lot to be proud of, and indeed they are. In my brief chat with Brent, he told me, "I'm very content with the album. I feel it was a great example of the progress we've made as a band, especially now that Igor and Stas are in the lineup. They really made the album that much better for me."

After giving this album a few listens, I can hear many influences such as Killswitch Engage, some off timing work similar to Meshuggah and some parts that made me smile were some influence by In Flames (one of my favorites). But don’t take these comparisons too seriously. Soulscar have their own sound.

Written as a band, with lyrics and music contributed by every member, it shows the full potential these guys have. "It was a collective effort, brought together by several topics and situations, both musically and lyrically, and I'm very pleased with the final results!" I can see why Brent would say this. A full sounding album, straight up metal, interesting twists, this is some solid material and I recommend any metal fan give it a listen.

Execution counts for just about everything these days considering what can be done, already has been done. In the case of Canada’s Soulscar, their execution of the melodic death metal style is commendable and appreciated given how many bands are content with addressing this style in such a remedial fashion. Victim Impact Statement is chalkful of memorable hooks, swift, agile riffing, and songs that resonate for multiple listens.

Not as visceral as Carnal Forge, nor as monstrous in the riff department as The Haunted or At the Gates, Soulscar instead relies on smart songwriting choices that place importance on catchy hooks and riffs that are melodically competent. Like so many others in the melodic death realm, Soulscar employs clean vox to a varying degree of success. Lead singer/guitarist Andrew Staehling possess a rich, thick rasp that is understandable, making the usage of clean vocals almost unnecessary. On the other hand, bassist Brent Mackenzie’s clean vox are a welcome addition to songs like ‘Cast Aside’ and the title track.

‘Death Anxiety’ has to be one of the catchiest and most gratifying melodic death metal songs of late, thanks to a vibrant main riff that latches onto the listener, never letting go. Elsewhere, ‘Without a Shadow’ has a desperate, forlorn feel to it, while ‘Ultimatum’ is an instant headbanger, rocking harder than recent outputs from The Haunted and Trivium.

Soulscar should not be heralded for doing any new or exciting, but should be commended for bringing some new energy into a subgenre of metal that has taken a creative beating of late. Victim Impact Statement showcases the best aspects of melodic death metal and shows that Soulscar are one of the few bands doing something of note with this style of music.

Anyone who has heard Vancouver's Soulscar has to wonder how these guys haven't been snatched up by one of metal's biggies yet. This riff machine would fit perfectly onto the roster of Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, and many more, and would probably blow away most of their bands to boot. For now though, Soulscar's happy home is Quebec's respectable Galy Records as they sharpen their teeth and hone their modern thrash sound to perfection. Between this and their last CD, Character Assassination, though, I'd be hard-pressed to offer any constructive criticism. This is pretty much picture-perfect thrash metal that somehow finds a way to sound retro and futuristic all at once; not something many metal bands can boast in a sea of goofy send-ups and/or industrial bashing. Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Staehling, besides being a song factory, is probably one of the best fast guitar players around, no doubt making Jeff Waters take a quick peek over his shoulder, if Waters actually pays attention to the new blood, that is. Staehling also has a pretty raging thrash scream, complimented nicely by his sung vocals and some metalcore back-up screams by bassist Brent MacKenzie. Sometimes it boggles the mind that metal this good could come from just across the water in Vancouver, BC (I live in Victoria), but I guess it's not the first time a band that close to me has nailed pure heavy brilliance. Fans of all kinds of extreme music need to check out Soulscar, and fast!

The Brave bunch have always marveled at the high quality and creativity of Andrew Staehling's Soulscar demos, so all eyes were on the big step-up to well-run indie Galy Records. Staehling does not disappoint, even if the booklet and cover are still a bit on the indie side. No, the music enclosed upholds the band's long-standing tradition for eerily addictive quick-footed melodic death. And man, don't take that as this band being another in a crowd, 'cos Soulscar have been doing this for years, and the individuality shows, in the band's frantic, intimates style, in the daring, crazy melodies, in the odd arrangements. What's more, there's a very singular sort of treble-shrill sound to the drum tracks of Igor Cheifot that add to the esteemed feeling one gets that this is a band on a blindered path all their own, a path without much of a diet or stomach for outside influence. A bit of prog to it, a bit of doom, a bit of avant garde, but if anything, I hear a bold lack of compromise - Victim Impact Statement is just the kind of record to prime the modern front-edge thrash fan as he waits for the new Omnium Gatherum.

More melodic death metal! I love it. This time it comes not from Scandinavia or their studious brethren in the US, but from Vancouver, Canada. I feel like I’m drowning in melodic death lately, which makes up for the unexpected lack of it last year. Soulscar does their part to maintain the high quality of what’s been coming my way lately (Dark Tranquillity, Scar Symmetry, The Funeral Pyre, Urkraft, etc.), and reaffirms why they landed a deal with Galy Records after 2002’s debut album, Character Assassination, which I must track down now.

Mainman Andrew Staehling, along with Stas Mikheev, has a superb sense for writing sinfully catchy riffs, laid over thrashy rhythm riffs. It’s like layering the good aspects of As I Lay Dying’s sound over Callenish Circle songs. Igor keeps proper time behind the kit, throwing in interesting fills when needed. Anyone who’s listened to a few albums of the genre already know how the vocals will sound - a hoarse delivery, half-screamed. In Andrew’s case, the closest comparison I can make is to Mike of Burden of Grief. But they change things up a little with the sporadic clean vocals of Brent the bassist, which lean towards the Killswitch Engage/Thursday style of delivery. They don’t detract much, but I could do without them.

Opener “Unmade” makes a statement with a fast and thrashy riff, before showcasing that infectious melody, highlighted by the super-clear production. A simple moving solo is substituted into that part of the song towards the end before the last chorus where many bands nowadays would just throw in a breakdown. Remember the solo? All ten songs are of the same caliber, so there aren’t really any standouts or letdowns, although “Hell Bitch” is a quick, delightful romp at NASCAR speeds. The title track brings the whole package together with one of the better clean vocal jobs, a noodling solo, and a relaxing piano outro. They come across as fast, but not particularly crushing, in the way that Children of Bodom plays 200 MPH without being all that heavy. Not that they sound like COB, of course.

It’s nice to hear another fine album from the great white north, regardless of where they picked up their influences from. I really doubt this will be top ten material for me, but it is certainly an enjoyable ride. This album is for any melodic death fan, or any fan of the AILD/Avenged Sevenfold/Unearth school of metalcore that feels like taking a breather from the pit. If you want guitar melodies, look no further than Victim Impact Statement.

Soulscar are back with their second album, Victim Impact Statement. Even if I love their first record, this one is better! A more mature sound, the writting also improved, the production is better than ever and the most important, the songs are more than good! Catchy as hell, those riffs and vocals harmonies will stick to your mind for ages! Blending death & clean vocals is very good even if some will say that every melodic band is doing it these days. Who cares? as long as it fits Soulscar music I'm happy! Fans of Arch Enemy, Soilwork and the likes, will definitly love that record. Clone or not, the songs are strong, intense, groovy and ultra melodic. The guitar work as been well done, with crushin' riffs and memorable moments. If you like melodic death metal you have to at least give it a try!

Of all the late 2004 releases, I don't think anything had my anticipation built up quite so much as Soulscar's sophomore effort, Victim Impact Statement. Having followed the band since 2000, I did expect big things this time around, since they developed a complete line-up and were finally picked up by a label, Galy Records. Despite high expectations, Soulscar has managed to produce one of 2004's greatest releases.

For all those unfamiliar with the band, Soulscar could best be described as melodic thrash with bits of death and classic heavy metal thrown in for good measure, though this does not justify their sound. It is done in such a unique way that I honestly cannot pinpoint them by attaching a specific "label". Somehow they are able to creatively infuse many elements from all realms of metal while still keeping a focused and cohesive sound. Most importantly though, they make it a sheer joy to listen to!

Victim Impact Statement has upped the ante in just about every catagory when compared to their previous effort, Character Assassination. The songwriting alone has made major strides in maturity and focus. Soulscar are able to pull off everything from blazing thrash riffing to mellow acoustics with incredible precision. The virtuoso-styled leads and solos of Staehling and Mikheev are technical enough to warrant merit but catchy enough to keep heads banging. Additionally, Staehling's vocals have never sounded better! The rasps are much stronger and the clean vocals...wow! They are much more confident and allow a more emotive side of the band to come forward in the acoustically-driven, mid-tempo "Cast Aside" and the fantastic closing title track, which concludes with great piano outro. Thats not to say that Soulscar no longer provides an onslaught of vicious thrash, as the Carnal Forge-ish crunch of "Hell Bitch", the fist-pumping "Death Anxiety", and the technically-jarring riffage of "Unmade" are ample evidence that they are quite definitely at the top of their game. The variety of tempos throughout the disc have managed to keep me coming back to it for well over a month and a half now. It seems like each week I have a new favorite song. Finally, the lyrics on VIS are some of the most enjoyable I've read lately, particularly "Victim Impact Statement" and "Regressor".

Victim Impact Statement shows that it is still possible to create a fresh and captivating metal release given the talent, creativity, and drive. Soulscar is the one band that should be on your "get to know" list because they are about to take off into metal stardom, and no one deserves it more. Highest recommendations!

Standout Tracks: Victim Impact Statement, To the Pain, Regressor, Cast Aside, Unmade

SOULSCAR is a name that probably only a few have had the good fortune to become acquainted with outside of Canada (or more locally, B.C., Canada for that matter). FOR THOSE WHO STILL HAVEN'T...their loss. A loss that is sure to be remedied in the years to come, for if ever there was a band at Metal's proverbial farm-team level who were destined to progress to bigger and better things, it's these four North Vancouver musical powerhouses.

SOULSCAR originally formed in 1997 as a solo project, the brainchild of one Andrew Staehling. Something of a one-man-band at the time, Staehling (the band's primary vocalist/guitarist/lyricist) released demo after demo of shredding AT THE GATES-inspired Technical Melodic Death and received unanimously high levels of praise from both national and international critics. In 2002, SOULSCAR evolved into a true band, with the addition of Brent Mackenzie on bass/backup vocals, and recorded the excellent debut release 'Character Assassination'. By 2003, with the further additions of Igor Chefoit on drums, and Stas Mikheev on second guitar, SOULSCAR had found their definitive lineup and signed to Galy Records out of Quebec. Now, in 2004 after numerous live performances (including an opening slot for DIMMU BORGIR) honing and seasoning their chops even further, this multi-talented act is back with their sophomore release 'Victim Impact Statement'.

From the opening blasts of 'Unmade', it is apparent that the band have made great strides tightening their already impressive sound and delivery with well-crafted and solidly–constructed songs that become instantly memorable, yet contain enough considerable technical surprises to beg repeated listens for full enjoyment and appreciation. As stated, SOULSCAR was founded upon a strong AT THE GATES-inspired influence, although upon deeper listens other influences also become apparent. I hear a lot of DEATH, CORONER, early OPETH, and even classic-era MEGADETH peppered throughout their work. But comparatives aside, ultimately even these cannot do true justice in describing this talented young act's sound. The band never obviously wear said influences upon their sleeves after all so much as draw their own unique creative energy from them to create an entirely new and fresh sonic template. SOULSCAR is definitely an entity unto itself with a musical identity wholly their own. Staehling/Mackenzie provide the emotional engine that drives this machine, trading harsh/clean vocals overtop of Staehling's technically-flavoured, virtuoso guitar leads, the pair leading tracks through numerous psychic peaks and valleys that twist and turn with unexpected time-changes and unique melodic vocal phrases which serve to create songs that are at once both hook-laden and musically complex at the same time. Chefoit is perhaps one of the more impressive drummers I have heard. I mean, judging by the band photos in the CD booklet I'd say the guy is probably about 20 at best, yet he hits the skins with a level of proficiency matching that of peers 10-20 years his senior. Mikheev too displays considerable ability, complimenting Staehling's impressive leadwork with his own throughout, offering a tasteful soloing style that suits the harsh, yet emotive style of the music perfectly.

Favourites are truly hard to choose as there are just so many great riffs, soaring choruses, and hooky leads throughout this album. 'Unmade' and 'Death Anxiety' certainly open with a bang, 'Cast Aside' offering a brief mid-tempo respite, striking a catchily mournful tone in the process with a vocal line c/o Staehling that particularly moves me. 'Without A Shadow' (featuring some clean vocals by Mackenzie) is classic, frosty NWOSDM-mode SOULSCAR, and a definite highlight, while 'To the Pain', 'Ultimatum', and the powerful title track pummel with cerebral fury, and uncompromising heaviness.

This is a band and an album who hit hard and leave a mark. SOULSCAR are definite thinking-man's Metal, weaving a sonic tapestry that is at once a hammer-shock to the psyche, yet at the same time, an emotional musical journey into the inherent hopes and possibilities that await beyond the grey horizons. One senses upon listening to this, that the band's best years are still ahead of them too, as there is just so much talent, creative drive, and hunger to push the limits of what the Metal genre can offer, inherent within this relentless four-piece. If you like your Metal heavy, intricate, and played with purpose and conviction, you really can't do much better than to pick up SOULSCAR's 'Victim Impact Statement'. It will quite literally knock you senseless.

"Everyone who considers themselves a fan of Metal should check out this band."
10/10 - Ottawa Metal

"Definitely recommended to fans of At the Gates, Arch Enemy, and Megadeth."
- Audacity

"Une vraie petite bombe!"
- CapitaleDM

78/100 - Metalzone.gr

"Stunning songwriting dynamics afoot here."
- FISHCOM

"It’s a great album and a perfect way to end out 2004."
9/10 - N.O.C.

"I didn’t go out and pour gasoline and throw fire over the album..."
- Digital Metal

"Some of the best metal I've heard in 2004."
- Ontario Metal