To label Phoenix, Arizona's BODY OF SCARS a Hardcore band would be to put them in a confining box in which they simply do not belong. Not that there isn't a strong Hardcore influence, namely on the part of the vocals from vocalist/guitarist James Santiago (formerly a member of Metal Blade stand out 40 GRIT). But there are sonic sounds and crushing elements, such as ripping guitar solos and other-worldly drumming, that make BODY OF SCARS an intriguing, big time player in the legendary Arizona Metal scene.

The gritty spawn of Santiago and riff master Randy Davis, BODY OF SCARS quickly converged and immediately embarked on a quest to redefine the very meaning of heavy; the result is their self-titled debut album, and to say they've succeeded would be a considerable understatement. BODY OF SCARS is heavier that Atlas' burden, and the entire album buries the listener in a massively weighted concrete casket with the heaviness pouring in from all directions. Bass and guitar collide and converge to create a thick, thrumming, back breaking sound that is the aural equivalent of a category five tornado trailing a path of devastated wreckage in its wake. That aspect alone makes BODY OF SCARS a long term force to be reckoned with, but the ultimate seal on this deal is the rather surprising presence of elite drummer Rikard Stjernquist, known for his masterful work with the top tier Power Metal titan JAG PANZER. Stjernquist's performance on this album is enough to leave the listener dizzy and in earnest awe, and the drumming alone gives this album a very high replay value.

Of course, as with any debut album, the listener ultimately ends up hoping that the next release is even better, with evolution on some or all fronts. In the case of BODY OF SCARS, the vocals stand out as the needful area of improvement. That's not to say Santiago doesn't give a solid performance, but he has a gritty melodic aspect that, while showing itself quite effectively on tracks like "Body Of Scars" and "Throwing My Life Away", would most certainly elevate the band even further if it were implemented more often. More vocal variety would be the icing on this thick-as-lead cake, but there's no doubting the strength, consistency and sheer heaviness of BODY OF SCARS. Hell, when you're done listening you may even find a few new scars on your own body.