Search - The Sins :: The Beginning

Old school gawth is back!

violetvamp | In my own little world... | 07/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! A band who brings back all the nostalgia of old school goth rock without sounding dated, and who is breaking new ground without sounding too experimental (or just plaing impossible to listen too). Drawing on the influences of their gothic forefathers (the meloncholy of Sisters, the more aggressive guitar angst of Fields of the Nephilim) and adding their own signature touches like a bit of middle eastern flair and a live violinist (no synths and samples here!) - The Sins are hard to classify yet easy to love. The singer delivers his deep dark vocals with all the vicious anguish he can muster, the guitars shred, and the live drummer is absolutely unreal in his aggression and precision! I give "The Beginning" 4 stars ONLY because I've heard some of their new stuff live and I want to leave them SOME room for improvement, especially if this is only "the beginning" for this talented band. This is one of the strongest debuts I've ever come across by a "goth" band (except maybe the Mission - another Sins influence) and very very well worth picking up for fans of the genre."

Planted firmly within the Great Tradition

S. Gustafson | New Albany, IN USA | 10/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This band is definitely within the tradition of old-school 80s goth rock. You get the heavily ring-modulated sounds of electric guitars, playing arpeggio riffs in minor keys. You get the strangled baritone yelps of the singer. You get an unusual classical instrument --- here, electric violin --- and you get a real live drummer to boot. You get an old-fashioned punk song ("So Many Ways") as well as longer, building pieces (my favourite is "Little Girl Lost"). You get songs about pain and fear and drowning and self-inflicted injuries. They have put together almost the complete package here. You will feel like you're on familiar ground here, and that's a good thing. My one criticism concerns the lyrics: they're pretty over the top, and not quite as clever as they should be."