I have read some belittling reviews about this bands works and I was very hesitant to listen to their stuff even though it sounded up my alley. Lucky for me, Digital sent their new CD to my door. “The Dark Bastard of the Finnish Goth Scene.” That’s what Sinamore called themselves on their myspace page. I’ll agree with the fact that this band hasn’t seen quite the brilliance of country mates Charon and Sentenced, but I am thoroughly impressed with what I have experienced on Seven Sins a Second and I would venture to say that this band is fast on the tails of every Finnish sorrow laden band out there.

Sinamore strikes me as a very honest and real act. First, the bands material is steady, very steady at that. If you have heard the bands previous effort New Day, then you have a good idea of what is being portrayed here. However, Seven Sins a Second is grabbing me where most other goth acts don’t. They can be very heavy and sad bordering on doom. The best comparison would be a band like Katatonia mixed with Paradise Lost. Once again, not as brilliant just yet, but pick up a copy of Seven Sins a Second and tell me if you don’t hear some strange melodies ala Katatonia that can set this band on fire. A good example would be track three “Silence So Loud.” In the middle of this song there’s a droning doom oppressed break with beautiful harmonies that just sound uneasy. It is something that keeps me coming back over and over to try to understand. To me that spells out brilliance and makes me wonder what the next thing this band releases will sound like. There are numerous points on this CD like this and that is where this CD differs from the last. Most harmonies are not you standard catchy moments. Sinamore have created a bleak landscape on some of these tunes.

Holding on to that sad feel, the atmosphere of this disc is very gray. Lyrically the material consists of heartbreak, feeling alone, and empty dreams. Not something to raise your spirits with. Lead singer and guitar player Mikko Heikkila has a boyish yet gruff voice like Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost mixed with H.I.M. Still he maintains a bleak disposition and I can hear the growth from the last CD.

Sinamore has been taking their time in entering our ears. The band has been around since the 90’s and didn’t hit a big label deal until just last year. Both releases are solid and Seven Sins a Second holds some encouraging stuff for the future. Fans of deep depressive music ala Katatonia, Sentenced, and Paradise Lost look into Sinamore for something reminiscent yet varied.

[Visit the band's website]

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