Higher

Higher is the ninth album on which Harem Scarem deftly combines delicate melody, thick, beautiful harmony and tight guitar riffs to build refined hard rock. It pushes the back-to-origin direction established on the previous Weight of the World further. The songs fully hold a pop, accessible appeal, yet a sure tension and intelligent complexity firmly remain in the arrangement. The powerful drive of the opener “Reach” and the catchy melody of the title track “Higher” show the band’s fullness, while the momentum of “Give It To You,” the lyricism of “Waited” and a cut like “The Lucky Ones” convey the songs’ breadth. The members’ outstanding playing precisely supports the songs down to the details, and its high polish, over flash, leaves a strong impression. A plain, engaging record fully using ample long experience. A sure steadiness and refined melodic sense particular to veterans fill the whole. Winning carefully on the quality of the songs themselves without relying on flashy tricks, it is a fine work of mature melodic hard rock — the band’s craft fully displayed.