I'm not familiar with four previous Scanner albums, I've just read that they were more of a speed metal band back in the 1980s. Anyway, 'Scantropolis' features some radio friendly songs, much thanks to the band's first female vocalist Lisa Croft.

'Scantropolis' is a theme album based on Fritz Lang's 1927 scifi movie 'Metropolis'. Therefore, heavy metal with various, such as hard rock, symphonic and pop music elements is what the band does here. Pop rises its ugly head on ulra-catchy opener 'Till the Ferryman Dies' ('Mission: Impossible' theme rip-off in the middle of the song... Just as fucking annoying as Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' first riff, let me tell ya!!!). 'Hallowed Be My Name' steers towards German style heavy metal, something like Helloween. 'Flight of the Eagle' includes some downtuned riffing battling with more atmospheric calm parts and a killer chorus. Both 'Turn of the Tide' and dark slow song 'Always Alien' bring in more storytelling-style epic song craft. 'Engel Brecht's' is a dark metal piece with choirs and quite lame symphonic synths. Heavy metal piece 'Sister Mary' rocks. Electro style 'The Gambler' features some Kraftwerk-esque synth melodies. Another poppy song, 'R.I.P. - Rest in Pain' is a bit like newer Theatre Of Tragedy. Overally, there's some good songs every now and then, but in whole the album feels a bit patchy. Loads of ideas, some too seamy and faceless songs.

'Scantropolis' was created to sound modern. The song material varies from heavy metal to lighter styles, and it sounds like the album's production was made following the lighter parts. 'Scantropolis' sounds ballsless, trebly and pretty much devoid of soul. To make things worse, drums sound electric, which they possibly are because there's no drummer mentioned in credits. Only vocals have human feel in them. Lisa Croft's voice is pretty individual in metal scene; she's no opera singer, but more like a rock vocalist. However, her voice isn't strong enough at times. Lyrics are partly okay, partly bad; "blimey I'm sitting wondering why I'm sweating like I do" and "cause bullshit can't taste like sweet candy"... Enough?!

Scanner sound very German, in good and bad. If German heavy metal is your thing and you don't mind poppy influences, be my guest and give this a spin. But the production job, it sucks big time!

Rating: 5½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/28/2005 21:06