I spend half my life it seems to me, re-reading my WhatsApp messages going “what the hell have I just said that for…..” Henceforth, that ain’t happening.
The reason: American Sin. American Sin are the antitheses of the unsure, the timid, the meek, the – lets be honest about this – submissive.
They strike you as the sort that have always known what they want. Their story is an interesting one. From Ohio, they were a successful metalcore band called Come The Dawn. Then they decided that wasn’t for them.
Evidently, what they decided was for them instead was something like World Domination.
These ten songs – it is a debut release that was snuck out with no build up and is billed as a “surprise” release – work on the premise “if you’ve got an arena, we want to be in it.”
“American Sin” is so testosterone filled that it makes Five Finger Death Punch look like Mumford And Sons, so musclebound it makes Stone Sour look introspective.
But, goodness me, its ace, it really is.
It actually sets its stall out early. “There’s no such thing as good intentions” is a striking first line. One that you could – if you wanted – analyse and argue that it was a comment on the rampant consumerism and narcissism afflicting the world. Not here it’s not. It’s a mission statement, proudly worn and stitched into the DNA.
“So Far Down” kicks in with a riff so thick it could batter you. But like all the others it has lyrics that are slogans. This one is a belter too: “There’s nothing worse,” yells John Bobinger “than living a lie. We were born and raised to do or die……”
Think these boys have ever questioned themselves?
There’s nothing approaching regrets here either. “Out On The Run” considers, briefly, being bluesy before deciding that no one needs the blues – “if you ain’t having a good time, then get busy trying” goes the hook here. This is not the hold music for The Samaritans.
“Roulette” actually sounds like a modern arena rock masterclass. “Trouble Bound” is like Godsmack at their very best, but there’s a telling bit in the middle, right before the solo. “the fucking party’s here…..” and you just know they are going to throw this shit down as soon as they can.
Proof, if it were still needed, that these boys mean business, comes in the form of “Missionary Man”. Look, it’s a Eurythmics cover. In these hands, though, it sounds like something Black Stone Cherry are filling enormodomes with.
“Drag Out War” sounds something like it was left behind from the old metalcore days. It might, in other hands, be a ballad, but no one is arsed with balladry here. “American Sin” – which means that rather like Iron Maiden, they’ve got a title track and a band name all in one – is likewise, but adds something a bit electro too as if to prove they can change things up if they want and “House Of Cards” even broods a bit and moves away from the good time rock n roll that nearly all the rest of this has occupied.
“Stand My Ground”, (“you only loved me cos you hate yourself” goes the hook here and it sounds as if it’s her fault) though, decides to finish things with Plan A firmly in mind. And Plan A has done the job, in truth.
“American Sin” have emerged from nowhere almost. In that context, then, they might be the saviours that rock n roll didn’t know it needed.
Rating 8.5/10
