This Swedish quartet specializes in semi-melodic death metal. With former In Flames members Jesper Strömblad (guitar) and Glenn Ljungström (bass), plus former Face Down singer Marco Aro (vocals) and drummer Chris Barkensjö, the first thing that’s noticeable in the opening onslaught of “Clearing the Slate” is the seasoned musicianship. After Aro yells “Fire in the hole!,” the band detonates into hyper-cavalcade rhythms and hard-punching guitar riffs. Without succumbing to the inadvertent “Cookie Monster” tones of other death metal frontmen, Aro balances a throaty growl with allocated bursts of elongated howls. But it’s Strömblad who provides the sublime melodies here and throughout Scars. The following “Your Demise” is similarly merciless in attack, but it sounds largely influenced by the early- to mid-'90s Swedish death metal bands notorious for burning down churches and slaying rival band members. At just less than three minutes, “Warmonger” ramps up the tempos to reveal a love for old-school hardcore punk.