The next CD comes by way of an actual Oakland-based band, that being Scorched-Earth Policy, who feature in their ranks vocalist John Miller (formerly of Gary Holt's band Wardance) and guitarist Carlos Santiago (ex-Bonecrusher, who were a good Exhorder-sounding band).
Although they do have the detuned guitars you'd expect, the band are more focused on songs than just destructive riffs, giving them a unique sound amongst their copycat peers.
Additionally, Miller has a more melodic delivery than most, while still able to grit it out with the best of them, and the end result is something that's in between what Floodgate and Fall from Grace were doing, with bits of the Bay Area influence creeping into their tones.
It's a style that I always warm up to immediately, and this band do an admirable job, so the four songs on the Tones of Ambivalence XCIX disc come well-recommended to the fans of the genre.
- Ula Gehret, Metal Maniacs Magazine, October '99
Having enjoyed this band's first recording, "Insurrection", Scorched-Earth Policy waste little time and return with four new songs. Although the picture has altered a bit as the group decided to incorporate a full-time vocalist rather than having guitarist Mark Lamb and bass player Jimmy Walker continue handling the vocal chores.
Enlisting an old friend, John Miller, who played with Lamb and drummer Lance Lea a few years back in a combo dubbed Daddy Lockdown, and more recently with Exodus' Gary Holt and Tom Hunting in Wardance.
Obviously this addition has altered the group's sound some, as has their musical progression. Being a bit more diverse overall and placing heavy emphasis on song structure and melody the band seem to have spent time in crafting these new ones.
It's not as ruthless or raw as "Insurrection" and has a more refined and professional feel, aided no doubt via the production of Thilo Fehlinger (Skinlab/Exodus live sound engineer).
- Marco Barbieri, Ill Literature Magazine, March 2000
Scorched-Earth Policy may have done the impossible. This band's sound mixes heavy industrial, hardcore rap, thrash and, get this, progressive metal! Santiago (guitars), Lamb (guitars, vox), Astin (bass), Miller (vox) and Lea (drums) pull off this strange combination well, however.
The songs are ultra-modern, bombastic statements that make a real hook with some true aggression. Tracks like "Denial" and the highlight, "Beat Back The Wolves" probably paint an accurate picture of metal's genre-blurred, electronica-tinged future.
- 5/5, Kevin White, Harder Beat Magazine, Dallas, Texas, September '99
This San Francisco based band strikes back with a second mini CD. Their previous attempt, "Insurrection" showed some promising stuff.
On this new one we find four songs that bring more from the same stuff that we heard on "Insurrectionî but only better. Everything on this mini is better than on his predecessor.
The songs are more compact and heavier, the samples are more fitting and the production is even better than on their previous attempt. Why is this band not signed? Scorched - Earth Policy is without a doubt one of the most talented bands in the current bay area scene.
- 8/10, Undertow Webzine, Belgium, August '99
We reviewed the last demo from SCORCHED-EARTH POLICY a few editions ago. Now they're back with a new release. We're still talking about modern, aggressive and groovy thrash which at times sounds just a little bit industrial. This time they have developed their style further, and injected a little bit of melody in the songs, which you can hear quite well in the song "Privileged". Their vocalist, John Miller is also doing his thing really well. This is probably one of the best bands around in this style of metal-deserves a deal!
- Scream Magazine, Norway, July '99If you took the grunge out of SOUNDGARDEN, the ferociousness out of MACHINE HEAD and the sweet eerie melody out of LIFE OF AGONY mixed it up with some hard rock a la MONSTER MAGNET and topped it up with METALLICA power chords, you would certainly have a most unique yet undeniably irresistible cocktail of sound. Name it SCORCHED EARTH POLICY and it's straight to the top shelf. So many elements of comparison may not suggest flattery to some but make no mistake here what you'll find is creativity in abundance with a freshness we all could benefit from. Out of the Bay area SCORCHED-EARTH POLICY with John Miller (v), Mark Lamb (g/v), Lance Lea (d), Carlos Santiago (g) and George Astin (b) are a very promising new piece of talent with enough Draino flowing through them to unblock the most clogged pipes in the music industry.
- Spin City Magazine, Belgium, June'99All four songs on this EP rock like there is no tomorrow (especially "Target Market"). Take note of a great pretty much unknown band and lock heads. They should kick your ass pretty good.
- 7/10 Adrian Bromley, CHRONICLES OF CHAOS webzine, Canada, June '99, Issue #40Scorched-Earth Policy are another of those bands with the incredible claim to be distinctly original within the underground scene. Christ the underground must be a strange sounding place, what with every band having their own distinctive style. However in the case of Scorched-Earth Policy this claim may be backed up with some element of truth. What we have here is a 4 track EP which showcases the bands new singer, John Miller, who from first track, Denial, provides the key element to the bands individual sound. The track kicks in with the instruments giving the feel of Alice in Chains meets Machine Head, all nicely tied up by Miller's clean and powerful vocal performance. Wisely not choosing to go up against Anselmo et al in the vocal shredding stakes, he instead delivers a more laid back performance, more related to the grunge sound of the early nineties. Indeed, the band remind me of a heavier Life of Agony. The EP could be termed as something of a grower, always providing something new on each listen which is no bad thing. Privileged adds an almost stoner vibe further emphasising the bands individual style. Indeed this EP showcases a lot of promise and leaves me wanting to hear a little bit more from them. Hopefully an album will be the next step, and will open a little more room for their songs to breathe. In a underground scene where most bands are content with painting their faces and screaming about their dissatisfaction with God, its refreshing to hear a band who are approaching it from their own viewpoint. This EP crosses over genres from Hardcore to Stoner and suggests that the Earth Policy have the potential to become leading lights.
- 9/10 Attitude webzine, Scotland, Issue 12, July ‘99Scorched-Earth Policy presents that metalcore sound that the 90's are well known for, without being sell-outs about it. There is songwriting talent within this material, and they surely have a future to look forward to. The quality of the recording is as clean and tight as a self-released demo could hope for. The music played is slower, catchy riffs with mid-range clean vocals, and could be considered radio-friendly, as it presents memorable and simple rhythms. This is a very professional looking/sounding release, and if you are into this kind of sound, you should enjoy Scorched-Earth Policy.
- Lady Enslain, Enslain Magazine, issue #7, Sept. '99