Album Review: Rosy Finch – Scarlet (Various Labels)

Scarlet is the new album from Spanish sludge rock trio Rosy Finch releasing on the 6th March 2020. Originally formed in Alicante (Spain) circa 2013, featuring members of Pyramidal (Lluís Mas) and doom metal act Hela (Mireia Porto) and Elena García.

2019 saw a line-up change during the recording of the new album, with Oscar Soler (Domo, Pyramidal) and Juanjo Ufarte (Grajo, The Dry Mouths) taking over bass and drums duties. The new formation has created a new heavy sound where singer and guitarist Mireia Porto finally seems to be in her element transmitting her darkest emotions.

Says Mireia:

Scarlet is about aspiring to be more and to do more. It’s about the idea that nothing will remove the pain but nothing can detain you. Red has always represented danger, lust, sin, guilt, blood…

Deep, dark and brooding, the sludge that Rosy Finch play is sticky, cold and life-sucking. It pulls and drags until there is nothing left but exhaustion and the desire to give yourself to the black void. Terrifying? Not in the slightest. You’ll welcome it.

All thanks to the groovy filth of Rosy Finch’s sound, one coated in emotional gloominess and bleakness. A lot of which comes from the contrasting bursts of lighter rockiness and out-right fierceness. The masterclass of Oxblood and Lava, the first two tracks, should be more than enough to sell the quality of this album to most. The way in which Mireia sounds so pained in the latter is stunning.

Of course, if that’s enough, there is plenty more to come. The effective treacly pace of Vermilion, the beast that is Amaranto, the brooding Gin Fuzz and delicious heavy sleaze of Ruby. The middle portion of Scarlet is simply unbeatable.

Keeping it really moody and dark for the final trio, Alizarina and the title track keep things moving in an upward direction. Before the vastness of Dark Cherry arrives. The humming of the bass, the fuzziness of the guitars, the rhythmic drum beat and as always, the haunting and captivating vocals make this an ending not to forget.

In an ‘old-school’ touch, the track actually ends at around 5:01. There is about a minute of silence before a hidden track, (Lady Bug) kicks in.

Rosy Finch – Scarlet Full Track Listing:

1. Oxblood
2. Lava
3. Vermilion
4. Amaranto
5. Gin Fizz
6. Ruby
7. Alizarina
8. Scarlet
9. Dark Cherry

Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube