Brand New Sin Brand New Sin
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 @ 10:17 AM
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Brand New Sin pack a brass-knuckled punch with their self-titled debut album. This fledgling band may be green on the rock market, but their black souls dish up the tastiest heavy metal that your ears have been hungering for.
Straight up, the pinnacle tunes on this album are “Broken Soul” and “SPP.” These songs both bust into super-sized prodigious hard rock that gives the moniker ‘metal’ a whole new meaning. On “Broken Soul,” vocalist Joe Altier sings, “I know I’ll be there laughing/ When your time comes.” Altier – who’s never been in a band before – unleashes the verses and choruses with the strength of an old soul. His vocals are strong and deep; he doesn’t scream or growl ever.
If you’re down with the signature riffings of Zakk Wylde, then I’m sure you’ll have “Judgment Day” and “The Oath” on repeat until your ears begin to bleed. The three-guitar attack shines through, especially on the latter, amping up the power with its thick blues-driven melodies. Guitarists Slider, Kris Wiechmann, and Ken Dunham belt out their grooves crystal clear, without muddying the music or stepping on each other’s toes.
Bassist Chuck Kahl holds down the rhythm on the anthemic “My World” and “Desperate Times Desperate Means.” These are the type of fist-pumping renditions that you can shout along with.
“Shattered” kicks off with a some skin-bashing courtesy of Mike Rafferty, segueing into some good ol’ rock and roll, along with “Did You” and “Changes.” This band delivers the goods with a passion and a mission.
“My tattooed arms/ They score a time/ Or a history past and that hill I climbed” intros the soulful and melodic “Sad Wings,” riddled with sorrow and pain. “Missin You” starts off as a beautiful acoustic number, cutting into a lighter-filled amphitheater-style ballad. Definitely the type of slow-song one might play at someone’s funeral or something.
All in all, this corpulent rock album worms its way through the debauchery of nu-metal bands to rise up and mark their territory as a metal staple. Brand New Sin, with it’s unpretentious, straightforward musicianship, will keep you banging your head from beginning to end. If Corrosion of Conformity, Halford, Down, Motorhead and Zakk Wylde frequent your stereo, then this album should most definitely round out your collection!
*****
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