UMUR "Scissored" is a 7" vinyl EP release by multi-national death metal act Bone Gnawer. The EP was released through Metal Inquisition Records in 2010. It´s not a stand-alone release though, and is only available as a bonus release with the vinyl version of the band´s debut full-length studio album "Feast of Flesh". The original version of "Feast of Flesh" was released in 2009, while the vinyl version wasn´t released until 2010. The "Scissored" EP only came with the first 99 copies of the vinyl version of "Feast of Flesh". The material from "Scissored" was ultimately included as part of the "Carved (2012)" EP, where it is more readily available.

Bone Gnawer was formed in 2008 by former Massacre frontman Kam Lee and prolific Swedish musician Rogga Johansson (The Grotesquery, Paganizer, Ribspreader, Demiurg...etc.), who handles the bass and do backing vocals on this project (he ususally plays guitar and performs lead vocals on his other projects). The two also work together in The Grotesquery. The lineup is completed by Morgan Lie on drums and Ronnie Björnström on guitars/backing vocals.

"Scissored" features 3 tracks and a full playing time of 7:30 minutes. In other words it´s very much a "to the point" kind of release. If you´re familiar with the material on "Feast of Flesh" (or with most other projects the four musicians are involved with) it will be no surprise, that the music style is old school death metal, which sounds pretty much like it was recorded in the early 90s. The music is very well performed (Kam Lee as always delivers some raw and organic, yet intelligible growling vocals) and produced though, and the songwriting is effective and catchy. This may be pretty brutal old school death metal, but Kam Lee is a master in including vocals hooks and phrases and repeating them enough times during a track, for the listener to be able to remember the song and in some cases even growl along. For example I dare you not to scream along to "Leave Her to the Cleaver" or "Back to the Butchery". As you might have guessed the lyrics and the general image are gore/horror themed.

So "Scissored" is actually a fine little EP release by Bone Gnawer, and it´s a bit of a shame it´s never seen an individual release. If you enjoy old school death metal and do come by the EP (or "Carved (2012)") I´d most definitely pick it up though. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.