HAREM SCAREM – United
The melodic hard rockers from Canada known as Harem Scarem released this 11-track album of theirs just a few weeks ago and the result is a satisfying one. Harem Scarem have been around for a long time although there was a five-year hiatus at one point, but the point that I am trying to make is that "United" is actually the band’s fourteenth album, so it is not as if these guys are rookies or completely new to the field of melodic hard rock. These guys know what they are doing and there is no faulting the musicianship here!
The opening track, which is the title track, immediately sets the tone with its catchy riffs, cool melodies, and strong vocals. "Gravity" is awesome and has a great and dynamic vibe to it that immediately grabs you. "Sinking Ship" explodes in your face and is pretty damn hard-hitting. I dig the diversity of the song material and the fact that there are lots of wicked twists and turns that never cease to surprise me whenever I listen to the tunes. If huge choruses and epic passages and so on gets your dick hard then fear not; there are plenty of those elements to be found on this record. Again, the strength of "United" lies in the quality of the songwriting and the fact that there is a lot of variety to be found between some of the tracks. I like that sense of the unpredictable that sneaks in here and there. "Bite the Bullet" is another highlight due to its groovy vibe, memorable chorus, and clever arrangement. Come to think of it, the lyrics are not all that bad either. One of my favorite cuts is the moving and slightly melancholic (and yet strangely uplifting) "The Sky is Falling".
While the majority of songs are interesting and solid, there are a few that lack the same qualities as the others, which is to say that "United" is slightly uneven in places, but in the overall perspective we are dealing with an entertaining and well-written opus that ought to appeal to all lovers of melodic rock.