Review Summary: Catchy goth rock form Finland. Fans of any type of rock should find this enjoyable.
Hailing from Hamina Finland, a new band has risen above the ashes of the Finnish metal scene. Sinamore had just released their first album " A New Day" back in 2006 although they began their musical career back in 1998. Finland is known for producing many upscale metal bands throughout the various regions. Children of Bodom and Nightwish have tended to be the bigger names around the block for the past decade, inspiring countless bands with their technical abilities and unique sound, attracting the youth and giving the scene a new life. A new wave has began to expand rapidly as many young bands add their own diversity to the metal genre, attracting many fans in the process. Sinamore, although been around since 1998, had very little luck in releasing anything with success. Producing demo's until 2005. In 2006 things changed drastically for this unknown band. They were given a chance to shine, taking no break to create a well crafted rock album.
Mikko Heikkila- Vocals, guitars
Jarno Uski- Bass
Tommi Muhli- Guitars
Miika Hostikka- Drums
Sinamore recently produced their first album " A New Day" back in 2006, and have returned to the studio for the new album. Sinamore play slow to mid tempo gothic metal recalling Katatonia or old Sentenced. Although lacking in origanillty, Sinamore present the listener with a strong musical performance with impeccable production. Slower paced metal riffs seem to blend in greatly with keyboard fills, as the atmosphere produces a relaxed environment for the listener. Sinamore pulls no strings with their debut. This CD has plenty of hooks, catchy guitar lines, and a strong vocal performance from Mikko. This is a perfect album to listen too on a rainy day, stuck inside, you'll find that, this a very serene record, very calming and addicting upon first hearing.
"A New Day" opens up strong with bittersweet melodies and mid paced vocals that are easily digestible upon first listen, giving the viewer a taste of what's to come. Guitar wise the band plays pretty well at what they do. Heavy riffs are churned at a slow pace , keeping a rocking beat and holding a deep rhythm for the keyboards to follow along with. Occasionaly Tommi and Miiko drop down a well executed solo, adding more meloduy to the somber music. Mikko has a strong yet subtle voice, very mellow that many people can enjoy, regardless of what type of music you listen too. Throughout the disk, Miiko employs clean vocals in all the songs. Miiko has great vocal range with his voice, showing off hints of Depeche Mode when hitting his lower notes, and sometimes elements from other bands can be heard in the distance . Lyrics are typical of this type of music but never delve into the cheese factor of tsome of the more famous bands. The keyboard melodies blend in perfectly with the music, adding a bit of sadness and despair to the slow pace music being played. Drumming is effective, holding a steady beat for the course of the disk. No blastbeats or pounding doublebass to be found on here, drumming plays second fiddle to the rest of the instruments. One song Sinamore manage to blend these elements together greatly is, "Sleeping Away". Opening with melodic riffing, keyboards soon enter, creating a mid tempo rocker. Mikko begins to sing. The chorus shines in as the guitar lines build up a rocking vibe that will have people moving with it's undeniable catchieness. Before the song ends, a guitar solo hits you slowly. A perfect finish to a great song.
Sinamore has been in the studio about to release their second album, but I assure that everyone should listen to this album first. Fans of Sentenced or any type of rock should find this an enjoyable listen, as this record is littered in hooks and sweet melodies. Sinamore should become a force in the evergrowing Goth rock scene after recording a stunning debut.
Pros:
Strong vocal performance from Miiko.
Very somber and melodic but not to the point of cheese.
Excellent production for a first album.
Cons:
Lacking originallity to seperate them from the rest of the pack.
