If you listen to the opening tracks like ‘Breaking Me Down’, the single ‘Halo’ and ‘Need To Feel’, the name of Black Label Society pops into mind. Heavy guitar oriented Rock with a capital R. The voice of Ryan McCombs is filled with confidence and got that typical dark bluesy undertone. Although the band musically rocks like they should in this genre SOIL lose their attraction after a few songs. Why? The band starts to play on safe, that’s why. From the sixth song on, ‘My Own’, the band slowly loses his grip. ‘Unreal’ is a song you hear too much lately in the current hype we call commercial rock (think Creed, 3Doors Down and Nickelback).

After these songs the music is well played, but the feeling of the first five songs is gone. It’s more commercial rock orientated and therefore loses the heaviness of the first songs. The more up tempo song ‘Why’ comes close again to the fine opening of this album and ‘Black 7’ shows that SOIL don’t have to be afraid to experiment a little more. “Scars” is a good album if you like Black Label Society and related acts. The music is good, the voice is good, but there has to be more to be great…