Album Review: Demetra’s Scars – Born Unbroken (Self Released)

Italian alternative metal outfit Demetra’s Scars return with their new album Born Unbroken, set for independent release on the 19th of June.

Since forming in 2015, the band have steadily built a reputation around a sound that fuses alternative metal, groove-heavy nu-metal influences, and modern melodic heaviness. Across previous releases, Demetra’s Scars have leaned heavily into emotional weight and atmosphere alongside crushing riffs and powerful vocal performances, creating music that feels equally aggressive and introspective.

Born Unbroken continues that approach while pushing deeper into themes of identity, control, anger, fear, and self-awareness. Described by the band as “an act of inner rebellion by those who refuse to be programmed”, the album explores the battle between who we truly are and who the world tries to shape us into. Each track acts as both a release of frustration and a call to reconnect with something more honest and real beneath the noise.

Musically, the band promise a mix of raw intensity, groove, melody, and reflective atmosphere where fury and awareness collide. More than just an album title, Born Unbroken stands as a statement of defiance and self-belief.

Demetra’s Scars is Didi (Denise Pellacani) on vocals, Samuele Casari on guitar, Thomas Bertellini on bass and Yassir Belfartas on drums

With 9 tracks and 35 minutes of music to get stuck into, Born Unbroken gets underway with its title track. Serving as an introduction to the album, the first 90 seconds are built around an inviting melody and an eclectic dance beat. It all feels very electronic and, while enjoyable, initially raises concerns for this old metalhead. Thankfully, those concerns disappear when The Voice arrives and brings the traditional instruments crashing in. Hardcore-style shouted vocals join rough riffs and pounding drums before the song settles into a heavier verse that introduces clean vocals.

What stands out immediately is the versatility of the vocal performance. Clean singing, shouts, and soaring melodies often appear within the same line, adding plenty of character. Musically, there’s a strong groove throughout, with solid riffs, impressive drumming, and a recurring melody that ties everything together nicely. The mix occasionally leaves the vocals feeling a little detached from the rest of the music, but never to the point where it becomes distracting. It’s a creative track with plenty of ideas, although some don’t always immediately make sense, such as the slow, melodic ending which feels somewhat at odds with everything that came before.

Fake Skin keeps the energy high with grooving riffs, thick bass lines, and more excellent drumming. The verses are particularly strong, built around prominent bass work and a cool drum pattern that allows the vocals plenty of room to shine. As the guitars gradually crash into the mix, the intensity rises naturally towards a very impressive chorus. Structurally, it’s a clever track that flows smoothly while showcasing the vocal talent on display. The combination of dance-inspired beats and distorted guitars during the instrumental passages gives the song a distinctive edge, while the slower, more melodic section provides a welcome contrast. It’s an enjoyable and memorable track.

The Blasphemer maintains the intensity with another powerful performance. Strong vocals move effortlessly between shouts and clean singing while the drums fire relentlessly, the bass pounds away, and the riffs continue to hit hard. At times, the song adopts a stop-start approach that feels intentionally disjointed, creating an underlying sense of unease throughout the verses. Once again, the drumming deserves special mention. Whether delivering tribal rhythms, dance-inspired patterns, or straightforward metal aggression, the drums add a huge amount to the band’s sound. When the arrangements become particularly busy, it’s often the drumming that keeps everything locked together.

Dance Of The Night Beasts serves as a brief intermission and is an interesting little jam session. Lasting around two minutes, it feels like the drummer and guitarists simply having fun, throwing together cool rhythms, bursts of soloing, and passages of riff-driven chaos. I’m not entirely sure what purpose it serves within the overall flow of Born Unbroken, but I can’t deny that I enjoyed it. It’s a fun track that offers something a little different before the album moves on.

The Monster I Used To Be comes next and is an absolute groove monster. The intro sees the drums, riffs, and bass hit hard, immediately grabbing attention. The verses keep that groove front and centre, with clean vocals layered over catchy and infectious rhythms that also return between verses. The vocal performance remains strong, staying largely clean while moving through different ranges and carrying plenty of attitude. As good as the vocals are, this track belongs to the groove. The riffs, bass, and drum patterns lock together brilliantly and make this one of the most memorable songs on the album. It’s probably my favourite track overall.

They Taught Me takes a more technical approach, particularly with the drums and guitars. Powerful, soaring vocals sit alongside off-kilter rhythms and crunching guitar work, creating a song packed with variety and creativity. The downside is that it can feel a little busy, making it harder for any immediate hooks to take hold. That said, there are some excellent moments throughout, especially when the intensity ramps up and the vocals become more aggressive while the drums and riffs hit hyper speed. It’s a strange track in many ways. The individual elements are all impressive, but they don’t quite come together in a way that fully clicks for my tastes.

Of Love & Instinct adopts a more straightforward approach and benefits from it. Cool guitar melodies blend with the bass and drums to create an energetic opening before the vocals take centre stage. The singing throughout is excellent, particularly during the slower sections and choruses, while some impressive high notes later in the track further highlight the vocalist’s abilities. Structurally, it’s one of the album’s strongest songs, flowing naturally from section to section while keeping things interesting through varied drum patterns, strong melodies, and some really enjoyable guitar work. It’s a very good song.

Demetra’s Scars close out Born Unbroken with About A Man, and the band once again showcase their versatility. The track sits somewhere between a ballad and a rock song, built around a constant push and pull between softer melodies and heavier outbursts. Clean vocals and gentler passages lead the way early on before heavier riffs, pounding drums, and shouted vocals raise the intensity. That contrast remains a key feature throughout and works extremely well. True to form, the band avoid a standard structure, incorporating a strong instrumental section, a particularly heavy groove-driven passage, and then a return to melody to bring both the track and the album to a satisfying close.

Born Unbroken is an album that I like more than I love, but it’s hard not to appreciate the creativity and talent behind it. Demetra’s Scars blend groove, heaviness, melody, and electronic elements into a sound that feels distinctly their own, while the excellent vocals and standout drumming consistently impress. At times, the band’s ambition works against them, with some songs feeling a little overcrowded and in need of more restraint. However, that same willingness to experiment is also what makes the album so interesting.

Not every track lands equally, but Born Unbroken is a strong release that shows Demetra’s Scars are a band with plenty of potential and a clear identity. They have something about them, and it will be interesting to see where they go next.

Tracklist:

1. Born Unbroken
2. The Voice
3. Fake Skin
4. The Blasphemer
5. Dance Of The Night Beasts
6. The Monster I Used To Be
7. They Taught Me
8. Of Love & Instinct
9. About A Man

Demetra’s Scars Links

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