SAINTS OF SIN
'Welcome to the Circus' is the debut album from the paradoxically named Saints of Sin. It's a catchy band moniker... I like it... although their style of logo is passé by three decades. Band members' general attire and appearance is also straight out of the 80s' hard rock scene, albeit they've dressed for the occasion on this album's cover and circus-themed shenanigans. Well, despite the cover, title, circus-themed art in the booklet, and giving themselves playful nicknames (The Strongman, The Clown, The Ringmaster, et al), a quick read of the lyrics reveals a distinct lack of circus motifs, literal or metaphorical. Just a few fleeting references. Lyrics are, in actual fact, as clichéd as the band's image and music. For example, 'Going Down' features the kind of lyrical drivel and crass wank that's marketed as "fun" within the context of gimmick-ridden anachronists Steel Panther: "She knows how to rock my boat, Losing inches down her throat." Oh dear.
Music-wise, apart from a few passages of palm-muted riffage and some competent fretboard widdling that beefs up their sound with a metal edge here and there, Saints of Sin are all about 80s hard rock pastiche. And it's a pastiche that verges on plagiarism on too many occasions. The worst offender is 'Wasted Nights', a track with passages that are lifted straight out of The Offspring's 'Self Esteem' (melodically) and Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love a Bad Name' (melodically and stylistically).
Elsewhere, 'Rocket' has some nice grooves; 'Devil You Need' has some interesting progressions and transitions; and 'After Dark' has an edge that's lacking on most other tracks. Frontman Rui Brito has a good voice, but not a great one. His range is limited... in terms of it doesn't always sound a hundred per cent natural and comfortable at the higher end of his voice. It's a tad forced. And a little on the nasal side... so much so on album closer '21 Shots' that he sounds as if he's singing through his nose. However, the backing vocal harmonies are very well performed throughout all the songs. And the general musicianship of the instrumentalists is good.
If Saints of Sin can hone their talents and exercise their chops within the context of some songwriting that has more of an original edge, they'd be more worthy of your attention. As it is at the moment, 'Welcome to the Circus' lacks the "wow" factor in just about every way, and is a marginally above average offering. I don't mind clichéd music, pastiched retreads, overt genre affiliation and mimicry, etc, but the songwriting needs to be there to support any such retro regurgitation. Saints of Sin have a lot of work to do here. A 5.5/10 review might seem a little harsh, but comparing this to the likes of Sweden's H.E.A.T and the quality of the songwriting, musicianship and production on their hard rock/metal albums, a score of five and a half is an accurate one for 'Welcome to the Circus'.
Music-wise, apart from a few passages of palm-muted riffage and some competent fretboard widdling that beefs up their sound with a metal edge here and there, Saints of Sin are all about 80s hard rock pastiche. And it's a pastiche that verges on plagiarism on too many occasions. The worst offender is 'Wasted Nights', a track with passages that are lifted straight out of The Offspring's 'Self Esteem' (melodically) and Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love a Bad Name' (melodically and stylistically).
Elsewhere, 'Rocket' has some nice grooves; 'Devil You Need' has some interesting progressions and transitions; and 'After Dark' has an edge that's lacking on most other tracks. Frontman Rui Brito has a good voice, but not a great one. His range is limited... in terms of it doesn't always sound a hundred per cent natural and comfortable at the higher end of his voice. It's a tad forced. And a little on the nasal side... so much so on album closer '21 Shots' that he sounds as if he's singing through his nose. However, the backing vocal harmonies are very well performed throughout all the songs. And the general musicianship of the instrumentalists is good.
If Saints of Sin can hone their talents and exercise their chops within the context of some songwriting that has more of an original edge, they'd be more worthy of your attention. As it is at the moment, 'Welcome to the Circus' lacks the "wow" factor in just about every way, and is a marginally above average offering. I don't mind clichéd music, pastiched retreads, overt genre affiliation and mimicry, etc, but the songwriting needs to be there to support any such retro regurgitation. Saints of Sin have a lot of work to do here. A 5.5/10 review might seem a little harsh, but comparing this to the likes of Sweden's H.E.A.T and the quality of the songwriting, musicianship and production on their hard rock/metal albums, a score of five and a half is an accurate one for 'Welcome to the Circus'.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
3MS Music
Album
WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
50:09
RELEASE DATE:
1st December 2017
TRACK LISTING
1) The Ballad of the Big Top
2) Welcome to the Circus
3) Rocket; 4) After Dark
5) Wasted Nights; 6) One Last Time
7) Running
8) Turn It Up
9) One More Minute
10) Heroin
11) The Devil You Need
12) Going Down
13) 21 Shots
2) Welcome to the Circus
3) Rocket; 4) After Dark
5) Wasted Nights; 6) One Last Time
7) Running
8) Turn It Up
9) One More Minute
10) Heroin
11) The Devil You Need
12) Going Down
13) 21 Shots
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
UK
"I don't mind clichéd music, pastiched retreads, overt genre affiliation and mimicry, etc, but the songwriting needs to be there to support any such retro regurgitation. Saints of Sin have a lot of work to do here."
