Military Genius – ‘Scarred For Life’ album review: fear, hope, and looking to the future
THE SKINNY: Military Genius, the project of Crack Cloud member Bryce Cloghesy, has proved his talent as a solo artist with his new album, Scarred For Life. While the arty post-punk collective consists of more members than your average band, Cloghesy is clearly just as capable as making music alone, channelling his personal experiences of life into his new record, which is a gorgeous and tender collection of tracks.
Informed by hazy Californian landscapes, which you can hear in the use of a wah-wah pedal, hypnotising guitar lines, and seductive saxophones, Cloghesy explores themes of reflection, fear, but also looking towards the future. The musician is honest and personal, centring his lyrics without foregoing interesting instrumental accompaniments in the process.
Silky R&B rhythms, blended with infusions of Spanish-influenced guitar and retro-inspired jazz-folk create a captivating atmosphere. While the songs retain mellow to medium tempos, Cloghesy experiments with different textures and instruments to keep the album engaging. As a result, Scarred For Life is a truly rewarding listen.
Whether Cloghesy is leaning into hopefulness or wielding a sense of nostalgia, the album invites us to be contemplative and, at times, to bask in our melancholy – not as a form of wallowing, but rather as a tool for productive reflection. The album might deal with some sad themes, but it isn’t necessarily a sad album. The sheer beauty of the record alone is worth celebrating because, for all of life’s ups and downs, a constant guarantee is the existence of truly impressive and affecting music like this.
For fans of: Quiet contemplation with a nice soundtrack.
A concluding comment from my boyfriend: “Who would have thought that under Crack Cloud’s angular rhythms, there was a heart yearning for smooth jazz.”
Scarred For Life track by track:
Release Date: November 1st | Producer: Bryce Cloghesy | Label: Unheard of Hope
‘Walk the Earth’: Beginning with biblical allusions, piano backs Cloghesy’s vocals, which occasionally wobble with a charming sense of vulnerability. As guitars drenched in delay pierce the soundscape, the musician creates a blend of calm and slight unease. [3.5/5]
‘Twisted Root’: A faster pace can be found here, with Cloghesy singing of a desire to escape, repeating “what comes around goes around” while a prominent riff and spacey synths whir around him. [4/5]
‘Darkest Hour’: Poignant lines are sung over an instrumental palette that feels like it could crumble under the pressure at any moment. “End and beginning just the same,” he sings. [3.5/5]
‘Scarred For Life’: Wah wah pedals and a thick pulsating bassline create a dreamy and sensual atmosphere, although the lyrics here speak of foolishness, mistakes, and unforgettable scars, creating an interesting contrast. [4/5]
‘Window to the Soul’: “Feels like I’m losing control/That’s when a fear takes hold,” Cloghesy sings, with a dark seductiveness simmering under the surface. [4/5]
‘Forlorn Dub’: Themes of remembrance are explored here, with Cloghesy using an upbeat rhythm and prominent guitar riffs as a backing. “Though time slips away/ A memory remains/So we pray for rain,” he sings, his voice echoing into the instrumentals. [4/5]
‘Solitary Flame’: Taking more electronic influence here, ‘Solitary Flame’ has an ominous start, with a horror-esque synth emanating from underneath intricate guitars. “Accepted that nothing could bring back the dead,” Cloghesy sings beautifully. [3.5/5]
‘Cactus Christ’: Melancholic yet complex guitars open this one, which is undercut by an organ sound. The song builds into something more upbeat, however, with lovely piano accompanying Cloghesy’s voice. [4/5]
‘This Prison’: Cloghesy uses that wah wah guitar that he uses earlier in the record to create a reflective atmosphere, singing sad lines of being “broken and defeated” and returning to that frequent motif of scars – a symbol of time and memory. [4/5]
‘Into the Unknown’: The album rounds off with a mournful yet simultaneously optimistic track, with Cloghesy emphasising the need to “release the line and risk it all to learn.” Beautiful pianos are the main feature here, as he sings of surrendering to fate and making it through darkness. [4/5]
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