Live Stream Review: Scour – Live From The Lair (29/01/21)

Scour are an extreme metal supergroup made up of Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera, DOWN), John Jarvis (Agoraphobic Nosebleed), Derek Engemann (Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals), Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index) and Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Lock Up). They formed in 2015 and have released 3 Eps and a single to date. The latest, Black (read our review here) was released on November 27th 2020 and was preceded by the single, Massacre in 2019, the Red EP in 2017 and the Grey EP in 2016.

Scour are not an easy band to pigeonhole. They have elements of black metal mixed with grindcore, punk and thrash. Putting it mildly, they’re an extreme metal band and designed to played loud. They’re a band suited for intimacy but as the world continues to be in a rough state and live music as we know still seems far away, Scour have taken to the internet for a livestream event.

Taking place on January 29th 2021 at Anselmo’s Nodferatu Lair Studio, Scour bring us a multi-camera event that has the band playing their EP trilogy in full. If that isn’t enough to excite your extreme metal senses, they’re also bringing another band along for the ride. An opening act in the form of Housecore’s own Shock Narcotic. Which features current and former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Black Dahlia Murder, Battlecross, and Child Bite.

They open the stream & absolutely kill it with a frothing blend of grindcore and metal. One where 20 minutes in the company of this band is about as much as anyone can take. Playing as though they’re in a packed, sweaty and small club with a rabid fanbase roaring them on. Shock Narcotic are balls of fiery energy and if this was the first time (as it was for me) you’re experiencing their brand of metal insanity, you’re sure to come away a fan.

Following that we get some very relaxed and interesting commentary/interviews regarding Scour. All about their origins, individual members joining and what the goal with the band was and is now. Before, with just an hour to go on the stream, we finally get to experience the chaotic machine that is Scour.

…and man is it chaotic. Controlled chaos but chaos none the less. Helped massively by the size of the stage area and the tight camera work that makes it all feel so confined. Add all of that to their natural rawness and we have something truly extreme and memorable.

Even more so as the group whip through their three EPs in quick succession, each one broken up with odd clips of the band chopping/chain-sawing wood and carrying it back to the Lair. Weird moments but they do allow a breather before the next set of songs are spat out like poisonous venom.

Powering through their back catalogue, Scour do put on a show. A no-frills and no nonsense show where interaction is at a minimum. Although occasionally Anselmo does introduce a track. No complaints though as this is exactly as it should be, Scour are here to deliver a good time extreme experience. Getting to hear all their songs in this environment, it’s not ideal but as it’s all we have to enjoy, it is certainly unmissable.

Hopefully, Scour have plenty more gas in the tank going forward.