The One Loved and Hated

If you are a devout Metal Purist, you might not want to frustrate yourself with Symmetry of Scorn. The sound of Pursuing the End’s latest record is complex and vexing to those who want uncomplicated, traditional metal. Their sounds include so much artistry and poetic interpretation that it is difficult to simply lash out and get lost. Visual aesthetics are insinuated to every lyrical statement. But, the timing and musicianship is incredibly smart, that it is impossible to deny that the band has specific goals that they exceedingly meet.

Pursuing the End is at times contradictory, a compulsory blend of melodic/extreme/Gothic metal. The group consists of two primary vocalists, one male one female. While Giacomo Benamati, lead male, demands the crust of the earth rise up as he supports his bandmate Chiara Manese with her freakin’ beautiful voice, the message for each song comes across insistently. At only three years old, these guys have remained focused and built something that sets them apart from many other bands out there, but just by so much.

Opening the album, “The Last Truth” is shielded in a lighthearted dub step mix; while it is shockingly malleable, the immediate next few bars just destroy all sweet security that might have just established itself. This is an example of how too much complexity sometimes masks masking poor song writing. “Something Remains” is a much more traditional opener, but listening to the harmonizing vocals and mash up of guitars, with the constantly shifting rhythm count, lead too much into a constant focus.

While some things could be done away with, like a few extra wailings on the guitar and some extra techno additions, Pursuing the End had a vision for thus album and they developed it exceedingly well. But there is too much going on in the album, and it is difficult to become fully enthralled by it as a whole. Another example, “In Vain,” has heavy dub step qualities. While this is well blended by the base, guitars and drums, the transference of emotion is abrupt. Because, again, like in “The Last Truth,” the song gives one quality, then replaces it with another, and another, and so it goes.

All that being said, Symmetry of Scorn is an amazingly thorough album. It accomplishes what it set out to do. There may be just too much for a technical junkie and too much foreign incorporation for a standard Metal Head, but see for yourself.