Scar for Life

History

Scar for Life began as a solo project for Alex Santos after he left the Portuguese gothic metal band Redstains in March 2008. When composing for the band’s first album, the self-titled Scar For Life, Santos decided that he needed more vocalists for the sound he had in mind and recruited Dinho (also from Redstains), Marco Resende (a.k.a. Rez) and Sophie (Understream) to provide the vocals, with Daniel Cardoso (now with Anathema) on drums and Santos providing guitars and bass. All songs were composed by Santos, with lyrics written by Rez, and all instruments were recorded in Santo’s Lisbon studio aside from Cardoso’s drums, which were recorded at Ultra SoundSystem studio, where the album was mixed.

Scar For Life (2008)

Scar For Life was released through the band’s website and available at first as a free download. This was a deliberate strategy by Santos, who ‘preferred to “offer” our debut album than put it for sale’ in order to raise the profile of the band to a Portuguese and international audience. Described as ‘unpretentious, confident modern rock injected with metal attitude,’ Scar For Life was well received by the press and was described by one reviewer as evidence 'that beneath the surface, talented bands are alive and well in the underground'.

Between the release of their first album and their second album, It All Fades Away, in 2010, Scar For Life performed live around Portugal. The band opened for well-known Portuguese metal bands, such as R.A.M.P., headlined shows and played several acoustic showcases around the country. In 2010, the band released Live and Acoustic, featuring songs recorded at some of these showcases. However, the band felt that the quality of Live and Acoustic wasn’t up to the standard of a formal live album so this was also released via free download from the band’s website as an official ‘bootleg’ album.

It All Fades Away (2010)

The band’s second album, It All Fades Away, was recorded in May 2010 at PressPlay Studios and UltraSound studios and mixed by Daniel Cardoso at UltraSound's new studio in Moita, Portugal. Again Santos composed the music and Rez wrote the lyrics. This time Sean Rose ‘Sales’ joined the band as bass player and the album also featured on some tracks guest musicians Bruno A. and Tó Pica (from R.A.M.P.) on lead guitars. It All Fades Away was considered a 'worthwhile sequel' to the band's debut album and was a mixture of 'traditional Heavy Metal, a little Thrash Metal and some samplings of Progressive Metal.'

3 Minute Silence (2012)

Between the release of It All Fades Away and the band's third album, 3 Minute Silence, Scar For Life went through several changes. Rez and Daniel Cardoso left the band early in 2012 and were replaced by Leonel Silva and João Colaço on vocals and drums, respectively. Leonel Silva also took over writing the lyrics for Alexandre Santos’ compositions, bringing a 'breeze of freshness' to the band, and Sérgio Faria played lead guitars on some tracks.

Released in September 2012 by Infektion Records, 3 Minute Silence was considered by Scar For Life to be by far their most ambitious work to that point and the release was accompanied with their first single, "Old Man", and a video filmed and directed in Canada by Dustin Warnock. Exploring a heavier and more melodic side of the band, 3 Minute Silence featured guests such as violinist Anne Vitorino d’Almeida, Finnish singer Kari Vähäkuopus (Catamenia) and British keyboardist Ged Ryland (ex-Ten).

Retrospective (2013)

To celebrate the five year anniversary of Scar For Life, the band released a compilation, Retrospective, for free download on their website. Including songs from their first three albums and one new instrumental track, "Retrospective", featuring Neil Murray of Whitesnake on bass, Scar For Life promoted the compilation with live performances in London and Portugal.

Worlds Entwined (2014)

In 2014, Scar for Life signed with Escape Records and there were some major changes in the lineup of the band. Guitarist Tëën Asty joined and when Leonel Silva left, Irish singer Rob Mancini took over lead vocals and writing the lyrics for the band’s fourth studio album, Worlds Entwined. The album was mixed by Swedish producer Martin Kronlund and featured guests such as Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Mikael Carlsson (Lover Under Cover) and Neil Fraser (TEN). In Spring 2015, João Colaço left Scar For Life and the line-up was completed with Tiago Ian on bass and Ricardo Reis on drums. Scar For Life released two singles from Worlds Entwined: Thirteen Revolution in August 2014 and Wish You Well in April 2015, accompanied by a video also directed by Dustin Warnock.

In August 2015, Scar For Life opened the Portuguese heavy metal festival Vagos Open Air, alongside such bands as Black Label Society, Destruction, Overkill and Within Temptation. In September 2015 Rob Mancini left Scar For Life to pursue other projects and the other members of Scar For Life are taking a ‘time out’ while searching for a replacement vocalist and lyricist.

Alexandre Santos is working on new material for a concept album with a band called Stagma, Tëën Asty is working on his first solo album, as yet untitled, and Tiago Ian and Ricardo Reis are working on side projects. Santos is also working on new material for Scar For Life and the band aims to be back in the studio in the spring of 2017.

Current members

Alexandre Santos – guitar (2008–present)

Tëën Asty – guitar (2014–present)

Ricardo Reis – drums (2015–present)

Tiago Ian – bass (2015–present)

Former members

Marco Resende – vocals (2008–2012)

Daniel Cardoso – drums, piano (2008–2012)

Sean Rose ‘Sales’ – bass (2010)

Sophie – backing vocals (2008–2010)

Leonel Silva – vocals (2012–2014)

Sérgio Faria – lead guitars (2012)

João Colaço – drums (2012–2015)

Rob Mancini – vocals (2014–2015)