Scour (band)

Lore & Background

Scour's original lineup included vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Derek Engemann, guitarist Chase Fraser, bassist John Jarvis, and drummer Jesse Schobel. The band debuted with the single "Dispatched" in 2016, followed by their first EP, The Grey EP, released that same year through Anselmo's Housecore Records. A second EP, The Red EP, came out in 2017, with the title track and "Piles" made available for streaming ahead of its release.

After a hiatus, Scour returned in 2020 with The Black EP, released through Housecore Records and Nuclear Blast on November 27, 2020. This EP featured guest appearances from Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Cannibal Corpse), Pat O'Brien (ex-Cannibal Corpse), and actor Jason Momoa, who provided guest vocals on one track. Ahead of the EP's release, the band issued the Bathory cover "Massacre" as a single.

In 2024, Scour announced their first full-length album, Gold, which includes a guest solo by Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus) on the track "Coin." Recording began in February 2023 at Anselmo's personal studio, Nodferatu's Lair, and the album was officially released on February 21, 2025. The band has performed at major metal festivals including Roskilde, Hellfest, Tecate Metal Fest, and Maryland Deathfest.

Reader's Guide

Scour represents a notable intersection of extreme metal subgenres, bringing together musicians from prominent acts in death metal, grindcore, and thrash. Their significance lies in how they adapt black metal conventions through the lens of Phil Anselmo's distinctive lower growl, which contrasts with the genre's typical high-pitched rasp. The band's stylistic description has been a point of discussion: Anselmo himself calls it "modern, thrashy black metal," while AllMusic describes it as a "punishing mix of black metal, grindcore, and thrash," and Metal Insider labels them a death metal band. This ambiguity reflects the band's hybrid approach. Their discography, built on a series of EPs before a debut full-length, shows a gradual evolution and willingness to collaborate with figures from across the metal spectrum, including actor Jason Momoa and guitarists from Cannibal Corpse and Slayer. Scour's legacy is still developing, but they have already established a presence at major festivals and carved a niche as a supergroup that challenges genre boundaries.

Did You Know?

• Scour's debut full-length album, Gold, was recorded at Phil Anselmo's personal studio, Nodferatu's Lair.
• Actor Jason Momoa provided guest vocals on one track of The Black EP.
• The band's original lineup included guitarist Chase Fraser and drummer Jesse Schobel, who were later replaced.
• Scour has performed at Roskilde, Hellfest, Tecate Metal Fest, and Maryland Deathfest.