SINNERGOD – Sinnergod (2016)

Despite having three successful EPs and a slew of prolific support slots under their belts, Manchester based SINNERGOD have only stomped amongst the shadows of the underground. Heads will roll as they step into the light to unleash their second full-length simply titled “Sinnergod” upon the masses.

Described as ‘Goth Metallers’, Sinnergods sound taps into a current, and healthy, trend to meld electronica and rock with heavily layered sequences and an anthemic chorus or three. It’s easy to make comparisons with the likes of Depeche Mode but Sinnergod have a rockier, and arguably, even wider appeal.

Founder brothers Mark Hampson (vocals, guitar) and drummer Chris Hampson say this new album is which best represents them as well as the most varied in terms of contrasts between metal and softer passages.
Chris said: “In a nutshell, this album represents everything the band is about. It includes all our influences from ’80s pop to ’80s metal and it ticks every box for us.
My brother and I have previously been quite cautious throwing influences like Depeche Mode and New Order into the songs. It has taken us this long for us not to shy away from it”.

Oh, and indeed there’s the aforementioned influences into Sinnergods sound, but it’s also got some significant muscle behind it, and while Sinnergod have plenty for the old romantics to enjoy in-between trips to Whitby, they’re not afraid to rock out when the need calls.
Mesmerising from the jump-off, the brooding theatrics of Ultravox-meets-Depeche opener ‘Dead Of Night’ segues into tech-metallic earworm ‘Burn’, which melds sinister ambience with infectious hooks.

Despite the poppy approach, his album is suitably dark in places, rousing in others, with plenty of heavy riffage.
‘The Endless’ starts with almost symphonic guitars and is another standout giving full rein to the band’s anthemic approach and this is repeated on ‘The Watched’ – like Tears For Fears heavied up, but in a good way. This has lovely synth motifs and some effective female vocals. What a fantastic track.
‘Joshua’s Day’ might also appeal to modern-day Marillion fans with a Rothery-style solo and a proggy vibe throughout.

The quality during this 60 minute-plus extravaganza never slackens and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better the band pull out ‘The Supernatural’ another example of the band’s broody, dark and extremely appealing vibe with a superb play-out at the end.
‘We’ve Been Expecting You’ even features a ‘Carmina Burana/O Fortuna’ style amassed choir which if nothing else demonstrates the band’s bravado and maybe suggests a collective sub-career composing for horror ‘B’ movies.This track also has another rather fine guitar-led play-out.

‘Johnny Sits Perfectly Still’ reminds me of a very heavy Chris Braide/Geoff Downes (DBA) piece and this shouldn’t surprise as DBA are locked into anthemic Eighties-rooted pop rock. Again, simply wonderful.
The band also mention as influences ’80s metal (including Iron Maiden and Metallica) and ‘We Don’t Have Anything’, although solid an heavy, is perhaps the least convincing track on the album due its heaviness. But Sinnergod started a power metal band man years ago, and wanted to represent that period here.

To be honest it’s really refreshing hearing a young band who are prepared to break out of the now predictable modern rock template. I can’t mask my own love of certain Eighties synth-fused music and, in the right hands and with judicious use of rock guitar, it can still be relevant and interesting.

Sinnergod blends power-pop from the ’80s, some British goth also from the ’80s, catchy choruses and a bit of electronica with some captivating atmospherics which collide to create a sound that’s gloriously danceable at times, but there’s sufficient fret-based gymnastics running through this record’s heart to satisfy heavy tastes. Shimmering solos abound, urgent rhythms with crunching riffs and pounding drums.
Who says that sinners can’t become gods? This is one of the finest, most consistent, independent releases I’ve heard this year and deserves to be huge.

01 – Dead of Night
02 – Burn
03 – The Endless
04 – I Never Had a Gun
05 – 1000 Sins
06 – The Watched
07 – Joshua’s Day
08 – Supernatural
09 – We’ve Been Expecting You
10 – Johnny Sits Perfectly Still
11 – We Don’t Have Anything
12 – XII

Mark Hampson – Vocals, Guitar
Chris Hampson – Drums
Sam Saint – Guitar
James Dunn – Bass
Paul Swindells – Keyboard, Samples

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