SINAMORE: A New Day

Cover	Release	Style
	2006–01-30	gothic metal
	Label
	www.napalmrecords.com / www.hardlifepromotion.nl
	Website
	www.sinamore.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	47:47	NPR 179
	Review by	Rating
	Vera	8/10
nederlands	Review
Those who get spontaneous visions of luxuriously clothed female soprano vocalists when hearing the term gothic metal, should realise that the genre has much more to offer than this slightly getting out of hand trend of the last year(s). The genre includes also a wide range of bands with mostly male, dark but clean vocals, generally without grunts, that write catchy, compact songs with a large dose of melancholy, but also including heavy guitars and refreshing piano ornaments. Many of these bands are native of Scandinavia. Think about bands such as Entwine, To/Die/For, For My Pain, Him (the most commercial one) or the recently as well debuting Soulrelic. Sinamore is no exception at that domain. The band is born out of friendship of a number of guys, living in the eastern part of Finland (Summa city, near Hamina for the history freaks among you). Despite their young age, they have recorded several demos (initially under the moniker Halflife) and this debut album was planned to be released earlier by a small Japanese label. This did not work out and only after inking a deal with Napalm Records, the debut album was re-recorded and some new songs were added. Singer/guitarist Mikko Heikillä writes all the music, but the arrangements are a band effort. I am sure this will soon assault the Finnish charts, for on ‘A New Day’ one can find ten self-written compositions with a catchy texture and agreeable to listen to. Tracks like ‘Follow Into The Cry’ and ‘Crimson Leaf’ are made up of powerful riffs and melancholic vocals, from time to time graced by piano in some tracks, for example in the introvert ‘A New Day’ which is the most beautiful slow track on the record. ‘Fallen’ has as much thrilling, sensitive parts and vocals remind me a bit of Anathema in the beginning. In the wilder parts it is a bit akin to Nickelback however (qua vocals). Just when I think the whole thing becomes kind of lame by the choice of many slow tracks, they come up with the dynamic ‘Drama For Two’. Exactly what was needed, a bit of metal feeling, and even some growling vocals (done by Tuomas Saukkonen). In the last song, Sinamore returns to the proved recipe: mid paced firm riffs, graceful lyrics with a slower part and melodic guitar leads which are always a benefaction for our ears. Conclusion: a quite sophisticated production, maybe a bit less refined on the next album, but yet a debut with a large amount of magnificent music that will appeal to much more people than the usual metal adepts.
Musicians
Mikko Heikkilä: vocals, guitars Tommi Muhli: guitars Jarno Uski: bass Miika Hostikka: drums Additional Tuomas Saukkonen: additional growling vocals on track 9 Teemu Aalto: additional acoustic guitar and keyboards Anu Lehtinen: piano on track 5 and 8 Hanna Nikula: violin on track 10
Tracklist
Follow Into The Cry (3:25) Crimson Leaf (3:51) Sleeping Away (4:56) Darkness Of Day (5:23) My Rain (3:43) Fallen (4:24) Misery Carnival (5:54) A New Day (4:04) Drama For Two (4:21) The Art Of Regret (7:35)


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