The Scarecrow is a metal opera, a grand and ambitious epic. The storyline is about a lonesome creature who is emotionally isolated from his environment and suffers from a distorted sensory perception, and the songs explore his journey. Sammet wrote all the music and lyrics for the album, and the storyline incorporates some of his own experiences. Power metal is the main musical genre, but there are also elements of traditional metal, symphonic metal, thrash metal and hard rock. The songs run the gamut from fast and aggressive metal to melodic and mainstream rockers to power ballads.
All the different vocalists make for a diverse sounding album. They all do an excellent job, but some of the standout tracks are "Shelter From The Rain" with Michael Kiske and "Devil In The Belfry" with Jorn Lande. Sammet has assembled an outstanding group of musicians, and their contributions coupled with his catchy and well-written songs make The Scarecrow a memorable CD.
(released February 5, 2008 on Nuclear Blast Records)
