Album Review: Sinsid – All That Remains

Album Review: Sinsid – All That Remains

Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez

This wasn’t what I was expecting!

In multiple ways. The prospect of new music from the US metalcore legends All That Remains was what had me opening my emails like a kid opening his presents on Christmas day! Though instead, Norway’s heavy metallers Sinsid were presented to me – terrible journalism on my part! Though going in blind for an entirely new band can’t be that bad, right? After having been impressed with Armored Saint’s “Emotion Factory Reset”, it was worth another dip into heavy metal too. In the words of Bob Ross, we don’t make mistakes, just happy accidents. Describing themselves as for fans of Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, and Accept, as well as being ‘the living embodiment of raw, powerful heavy metal’, it’s clearer what we can expect from Sinsid.

Songs like ‘Sarcophagus’ represent the thrashier side of their sound. Think of 80s style thrash – Accept, Destruction – with the chopping galloping rhythms, break-neck speed, and wailing vocals, and you’ll be transported to the early years of the genre for sure. Hook after catchy hook are presented to you in a steady and manageable manner as the pacing of the album allows for each to be digested in just the right way, before the next instantly memorable segment enters your stream of consciousness. The pacing, again, is spot on. As is the production, capturing that subtle desert-rock undertone in which the faster paced heavy metal is built upon.

Songs that invoke a classic heavy metal sound are abundant, especially with the catchy melodies in the verses and the instantly memorable call and response gang style vocals in ‘Running’ and ‘Templars Of Metal’. On the subject of vocals, Terje delivers a solid performance from behind the mic, demonstrating versality in his approach as well as a deeper more rich baritone resonance to his voice, going against the higher pitch vocals you typically hear in the genre. Though in other ways, the album delivers everything you’d expect in a good ol’ fashioned heavy metal record. Sinsid don’t try to reinvent the wheel nor try too hard to sound different nor force innovation in a way that feels non-organic. No, “All That Remains” is a believable and honest record from a band who eat, drink, and sleep heavy metal!

With this being said, it’s unlikely that “All That Remains” will present a serious challenge to the established order of the genre, and may well fall behind the likes of Armored Saint in terms of instant classic releases. Though if you’re looking for classic no BS heavy metal, Sinsid and “All That Remains” are for you.

A good discovery after all. A far cry from US metalcore but I’m satisfied none-the-less.

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