Patchwork were formed in 2010 by five longtime friends who reconnected nearly two decades after stepping away from music. Originally a cover band focused on the thrash classics they grew up with, they quickly began writing original material. A three-song demo was released in 2011, followed by a full shift to original compositions with a new vocalist. Their debut album, Exit Wounds, was released in 2015 on Turkey Vulture Records. Scars will be out May 16 via self-release.
The songs were written over a span of six years, from 2016 to 2022, with music by Brad Carlson and Dave Caruana. During this time, the band lost their close friend and fellow songwriter Mark Sheetz to cancer in April 2023. The album cover art reflects his battle and symbolizes the emotional core of the project.
“The song structures generally follow a pattern that includes an intro, verse, prechorus, chorus, bridge, and solo, often returning to motifs introduced earlier in the track,” the band say. Guest musicians were invited to write their own parts. Vocals were initially developed for Dan Fernandez, the band’s original singer, but after he left, Heith Gruner stepped in. Heith brought a different vocal style, requiring changes to many melodies, which ultimately gave the songs more dynamic range.
Bassist Liza Sanchez joined midway through recording, replacing scratch tracks laid down by Dave. She brought experience, originality, and strong musicianship to the album’s low end. Guitars were recorded at Scars Studio and The Junkyard, with reamping done at TVR Studio. Drums were triggered using Superior Drummer 3, and bass was recorded through an Ampeg head.
Track 1: You Have Failed
The album opens with a short instrumental that sets the emotional and sonic tone. A lone guitar plays a steady rhythm, creating a haunting atmosphere enhanced by whammy bar effects from guest Todd Paluzzi. The piece grows in intensity without changing tempo, ending with five abrupt staccato notes, echoing the image of a vinyl record skipping. The track speaks to the theme of failure, not only as a setback but as a necessary part of growth. This reflection leads directly into the title track, emphasizing how failure becomes a scar when we learn from it.
Track 2: Scars
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solo by Brad Carlson.
The title track is the most hopeful song on the album. The theme of scars has been present since Patchwork’s beginning, with their first original song also titled “Patchwork.” This track expresses the idea that our scars represent lessons, shaping who we are. While we cannot change the past, we always have the power to choose our path moving forward.
Musically, the song opens with a riff over a snare pattern that echoes the intro track. It then accelerates into 16th-note double bass drumming at 181 BPM. The prechorus jumps to 210 BPM, the fastest point on the album. Vocals were recorded early and are the cleanest on the record. The interlude builds from one to three guitar layers before a brief, focused solo. Structurally and emotionally, this track is a defining statement.
Track 3: Fallout
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solo by Bobby Gustafson.
This track confronts the psychological scars left by childhood trauma. Some individuals cannot process or accept their trauma and become destructive forces in their environment. The song critiques the narcissistic belief that others must accommodate or pay for this pain, leading to societal collapse.
Originally intended to close the album, Fallout omits a final verse or chorus, a deliberate choice to simplify the structure. The song exemplifies the more streamlined approach Patchwork took with Scars. Guest guitarist Bobby Gustafson adds a fierce, classic thrash solo that elevates the track’s emotional intensity.
Track 4: Rellik
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solo by Kragen Lum.
“Rellik” examines the impact of toxic individuals and the relief of leaving them behind. Opening with a brief acoustic section, the song quickly launches into fast-paced thrash. The main riff was one of the first written for the album and remains central throughout. The relentless rhythm reflects the urgency of escape. Kragen Lum’s solo delivers sharp precision and adds emotional weight to the track.
Track 5: Ruined
Lyrics by Brad Carlson. Guitar solo by Brad Carlson.
“Ruined” explores the frustration of being in a relationship with someone unable to break free from their own damaged past. The lyrics convey the emotional fallout when unresolved trauma repeats itself in new relationships.
Musically, the song uses fewer riffs than others on the album but builds tension with variation and layering. The finale features a four-part harmonized guitar section that grows into a climax before abruptly ending, leaving only a single delay echo. This symbolizes an emotional eruption followed by emptiness.
Track 6: Methuselah
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solos by Brad Carlson.
This track reflects on generational ignorance and the failure to learn from history. The Biblical Methuselah, who lived 969 years, becomes a metaphor for the ignored wisdom of the past. The song criticizes modern culture’s tendency to view history through a narrow present-day lens, disregarding its true context.
Musically, the song is mid-tempo and progressively structured. It features Patchwork’s heaviest breakdown. Despite a brief creative disagreement about rhythm placement, the final arrangement came together successfully. “Methuselah” is the longest track on the album but has the fewest lyrics, allowing the instrumentation to speak volumes.
Track 7: Divide
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solos by Ronnie Parmer. Vocals by Dallas Toler-Wade.
“Divide” critiques cultural manipulation and control through gaslighting, cancel culture, and misinformation. The African proverb “the axe forgets but the tree remembers” underpins the song’s message: there will be a reckoning.
Musically, this is the band’s closest approach to death metal. Written by Brad in drop C tuning, the song repurposes material from an earlier track, transforming it with new speed and context. Dallas Toler-Wade’s vocals bring a harsh, commanding presence, and Ronnie Parmer’s guitar solo merges seamlessly with the track’s aggressive tone.
Track 8: The Vulture
Lyrics by Mark Sheetz. Guitar solos by Brad Carlson.
Inspired by the funeral of Brad’s mother, “The Vulture” examines death as a cold, predatory force. Mark Sheetz, who wrote the lyrics, observed a vulture circling during the burial and drew parallels to how illness and grief prey on the living.
The song is diverse in structure, beginning with a furious tempo, transitioning to a calm acoustic interlude, and ending with a powerful solo and heavy conclusion. Mark’s contribution is especially meaningful as neuropathy from chemotherapy prevented him from playing on the album. His words remain a vital part of the project.
Track 9: Skies in Flames
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solo by Michael Gilbert.
This track critiques narcissism and the denial of personal responsibility. The lyrics are written from the point of view of someone blind to their own damage, believing themselves to be a victim while leaving destruction in their wake.
The song’s creation became the blueprint for the album’s collaborative process. Brad and Dave traded riffs and ideas, building the song layer by layer. Michael Gilbert’s solo is a masterclass in contrast, moving from melodic to shredding and back, mirroring the song’s rising tension.
Track 10: The Empty
Lyrics by Dave Caruana and Brad Carlson. Guitar solo by Brad Carlson.
The Empty deals with the grief of losing a father. Written before the loss occurred, the song took on new meaning after Brad’s father passed. Its lyrics, drawn from Brad’s own writings, express hopelessness and the permanence of emotional absence.
This is the only Patchwork song written in drop D tuning, which gives it a unique feel. The structure is familiar, but the tone is much darker. It ends with vocals over the final riff, a rare decision that enhances the song’s emotional weight.
Track 11: Buried Alive
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solo by Bobby Gustafson.
Buried Alive tells the story of a dying man tormented by secrets too dangerous to share. The lyrics reflect paranoia, regret, and the isolation caused by emotional scars.
Composed entirely by Dave, the track features Brad’s daughter Ella performing both a spoken line and a death metal scream in the intro. The closing quote, taken from the HBO series Chernobyl, encapsulates the album’s theme of painful truths. Bobby Gustafson’s solo is an unrelenting thrash onslaught, bringing the song to a dramatic close.
Track 12: Bitter Truth
Guitar solos by Dallas Toler-Wade.
An instrumental meditation on reflection and transformation, Bitter Truth is about confronting hard truths and deciding whether to change. The song’s structure echoes life’s stages, repeating key themes with and without solos to illustrate growth and regret.
Dallas Toler-Wade’s performance captures the introspective tone while showcasing his technical brilliance. This track allows the listener space to breathe before the emotional final track.
Track 13: At The End
Lyrics by Dave Caruana. Guitar solos by Kragen Lum.
The final track is a farewell to Mark Sheetz, both as a bandmate and as a friend. It’s written from two perspectives: God, offering comfort and acceptance, and a loved one begging the person not to go.
The song’s complex rhythm shifts between 4/4 and 6/4 and features the most difficult passage Patchwork has ever written. It ends with a recorded clip of Mark speaking, giving him a literal voice in the album. “At The End” is a deeply personal tribute, emotionally raw and musically challenging.
“Scars is faster, more aggressive, and more focused than Exit Wounds,” the band conclude. “While the previous album told personal stories, Scars analyzes broader consequences. The songs are shorter and more accessible but no less intense. Guest solos stand out as highlights, elevating the album’s impact. Tracks like ‘Methuselah,’ ‘The Vulture,’ and ‘At The End’ showcase the album’s depth, while the new lineup, especially Heith Gruner and Liza Sanchez, brought new life and professionalism to the band.
“Lyrically, Scars requires more interpretation than its predecessor, but offers greater emotional and philosophical reward. Its standout solos, emotionally complex songwriting, and tighter arrangements make it a powerful statement of growth, grief, and persistence.”
The post Track-by-Tack: Patchwork – Scars appeared first on Decibel Magazine.