Harem Scarem - 'Chasing Euphoria'

Rock Metal Machine
Jul 5
2 min read

Harem Scarem have delivered plenty of euphoria with no chasing required.

Silhouette walking toward a glowing city skyline, surrounded by a labyrinth. Text: Harem Scarem, Chasing Euphoria. Warm, dramatic tones.

I’d lost touch a bit with Haren Scarem during the last decade, listening to releases but not having the time to fully digest them (a future joy to come). I decided to rectify that by reviewing their new sixteenth studio release, a decision helped by also covering their recent cracking London show; I am so glad I did. Ihave many favourite songs across their discography, but none come close to matching the amazing self-titled debut and sophomore stunner ‘Mood Swings’, but I’ll tell you what, ‘Chasing Euphoria’ tries to give it a bloody good go.

The opening title-track is an absolute ripper that has been pounding around my head for weeks. It has that classic Harem Scarem riff with Harry Hess’ great vocals on top, all leading to a super infectious, backing vocals filled chorus. ‘Better The Devil You Know’ is equally as good with a delightful bouncing guitar melody before another delicious chorus. ‘Slow Burn’ is another top track and is just the opposite with upbeat axework from the brilliant Pete Lesperance. The early chug in the delicious ‘In A Bad Way’ has that mid-paced Melodic Hard Rock sound that Scarem are famous for, and it’s another cracker that grinds its way to a gorgeous layered-vocal eruption. My other highlight is ‘Reliving History’ where chiming guitar twinkles before it thickens quicker than Angel Delight for a fabulous, very-Scarem mid-paced singalong.

Elsewhere, ‘Gotta Keep Your Head Up’ builds with a bit of a head-nodding stomp, while Lesperance is given a chance to get a touch funky for ‘Understand It All’ before the revolving chorus takes over. Closer ‘Wasted Years’ features an imposing riff that drives the song along until the united voices deliver another lively chorus, and as the guitar churns and stings, Hess gives the vocals some bite during ‘A Falling Knife’. Starting from a mellow beginning with a Pop-like backing, ‘World On Fire’ explodes into the only true power ballad on the record.

‘Chasing Euphoria’ has really hit the spot with me and I think it’s one of the best records they’ve released. It may not scale the heights of the debut and ‘…Swings’, but it gets close enough to stare upward clearly at those imposing twin peaks. A few songs would be good enough to make those records, but what’d could possibly be left off in their place is a hefty discussion for another day. Harem Scarem have delivered plenty of euphoria with no chasing required.

Reviewer: Dave Scott

Label: Frontiers

Genre: Hard Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 111

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