Act of Defiance – Old Scars, New Wounds

22nd September 2017 0 By Tim Jones

If it was 1991 and someone said to me “this band has ex-Megadeth members in it” I would have jumped for joy. Anything to do with Megadeth at that time was fantastic to my 16-year-old self and an Act of Defiance album would have been high on my list of things to purchase from my local record shop.

But it’s not 1991 and Megadeth aren’t riding the wave of popularity of Rust in Peace any longer. Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover were in Megadeth when the band was, let’s face it, way past its sell by date. They quit Megadeth on the same day and it’s difficult to see anything other than one Mr D. Mustaine being their reason for this.

The pair didn’t let the grass grow beneath their feet and formed Act of Defiance, a band which for some reason has been given the moniker of an “extreme metal supergroup”. What absolute tosh.

Old Scars, New Wounds is Act of Defiance’s second long player and it’s as good as any modern-era Megadeth record, and no, that isn’t a compliment.

The style mixes thrash and melodic death metal in a way that someone who doesn’t know how to mix things together properly might have done it. The switches between melodic vocals and guttural screaming are an annoyance – pick one and stick to it.

In fact, a lot of the time it’s as if Broderick and Drover had a Machine Head album on in the background really quietly one day, heard it once and then said “I’m going to recreate that sound. Badly.”

it’s as good as any modern-era Megadeth record, and no, that isn’t a compliment<span class="su-quote-cite">Tim Jones</span>

Old Scars, New Wounds demonstrates what can happen when a lead guitarist does something themselves. Broderick might have laid down some sick solos for Megadeth, but he never wrote the songs. This offering exposes his weakness as a songwriter and most of what could have been excellent riffs and leads have been overegged by a guitarist who seemingly wants to shout “LOOK AT ME!” rather than simply produce something of quality.

Also the guitars seem a little high in the mix. Very Mustainian, Mr Broderick.

The album isn’t unlistenable, but when Act of Defiance is sold to you as a “supergroup” it’s hard not to be disappointed by the outcome.

For an example of something worthy of listening to, go and check out Chris Poland’s Return to Metalopolis album instead.