Welcome Back To The Brodeo by Scarlett O’Hara (South Texas Metalcore)

Welcome Back To The Brodeo by Scarlett O’Hara (South Texas Metalcore)

When Scarlett O’Hara first appeared on the post hardcore/metal scene, they possessed absolutely everything you could imagine to break out in nothing sort of an epic way. They were a band featuring six wildly charismatic members signed to the hottest record label in town. Their debut recording Lost In Existence was critically acclaimed and they were touring all across the nation to support this endeavor. While Rise Records certainly launched the careers of similar collectives such as The Devil Wears Prada and Crown The Empire, Scarlett O’Hara seemed to be plagued with setbacks from the start – internally and otherwise. Fortunately passion and perseverance are tenfold both within the legendary fictional character of motion picture lore as well as this exhilarating band hailing from the vast confines of the Lone Star State.

Now signed to South Texas Metalcore, Scarlett O’Hara has unleashed their much anticipated follow-up to Lost In Existence at last. Aptly titled Welcome Back To The Brodeo, their latest recording is certainly the next slamming chapter of a career that may still take off into the stratosphere. Eight years seems like an eternity for any band within the realm of Musicland, but the fiery tapestries found within Welcome Back To The Brodeo are well worth the eternal wait!

The ominous commencement of Step Right Up tosses the listener deep into the heart of the raging title track, demonstrating at once that Scarlett O’Hara mean serious business with their Welcome Back To The Brodeo manifesto. “Welcome back to the freak show. Been a long time, but now we’re back and better than ever” screams vocalist Eddie Cano with a dynamic sense of urgency. Locked From Within them follows, a revealing composition about battling the personal demons at a place we all know called the Seven Deadly Sins Motel. “I’ve been consumed by the black. I need to find my faith and take it back,” are amongst the powerhouse lyrics on Locked From Within leaving quite an liberating impression on the listener. The reflective sentiments and blasting melodies continue with I’ve Had Enough, with its “I’m so sick of this place, the look on your face” sentiments breaking through with a massive amount of cathartic intensity. Dude, Your Still Being That Guy slashes and burns with its bleak “Day by day, you’ve been slowly destroying your soul” observations.

“Say so long to paradise, how the hell did it go so wrong?” kicks off The Show Must Go On with an almighty ferocity that penetrates the soul. Even a song humorously titled Robots Are Taking Over seethes with spiraling annotations and a fevered soundscape. A break from the pummeling madness is found within the intriguing Tristeza, a serenely haunting instrumental that burst into the punishing refrains of Make Your Own Karma. The end of Brodeo Journey then arrives when the one/two punch of Until Next Time followed by the ominous Curtain Call (Final Bow), both selections showing just how imaginative and captivating the modern day  Scarlett O’Hara auditory experience is.

The Scarlett O’Hara brigade are clearly back with an all-out vengeance, featuring the dynamic collective talents of Arnie Bernal on drums and backup vocals, Logan Burns on lead guitar and clean vocals, Eddie Cano on lead vocals, Andrew Mena on bass, and Alek Samodouroff on rhythm guitar and programming. Welcome Back To The Brodeo is a triumph of massive proportions – the comeback is now on big time, and Scarlett O’Hara is ready to finish the sonic takeover they started eight long years ago! Expect a whole lot of sonic devastation as the Scarlett O’Hara saga rides triumphantly back into the Brodeo to reclaim the burning hearts and souls of the metalcore masses!

(Review by Ken Morton)

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