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Band: Night Sins
Album title: To London Or The Lake
Release date: 10 December 2013
Label: Avant! Records
Tracklisting:
01. Air Dance
02. To London Or The Lake
03. Evangeline
04. Rain
05. Bound 'Round The World
06. Heaven In The Snow
07. Dear Marquis
08. Neon Light Intoxication
The recent gothic rock movement (or by some called the third wave of gothic rock) consists of bands that bring new ideas into the style, some more others less successfully, then others just try to copy what has been done in the past and some succeed in this job, then others, well, are just boring and badly "copy + paste" executed attempts. USA based Night Sins are one of those bands whose sound is deeply rooted in the past, but is extremely well done and if this album would be released 20 or 30 years ago we will talk about it as a monumental release. Anyway, even now, those who like the things that are essential for the genre will go mad after this release.
Night Sins are a proof that gothic rock isn't just an European thing and Americans can do it the same if not even better on some occasions. This three piece band on their debut album shows in a big way what's all about the gothic rock; deep baritone vocals, melancholic guitar lines, gloomy, sometimes sparkly synths, catchy, yet obscure melodies, bass lines full of reverb and drum machine that gives the necessary danceable rhytm. Their main fountain of influence must be mighty The Sisters Of Mercy, The Cult and early Clan Of Xymox, but you can't get past noticing a lot of elements that were used by German pioneers of the genre Love Like Blood on their first couple of albums and wave elements that have something in common with Born For Bliss.
A little more than 25 minutes of music up here pushes the listener in a hallucinating dark abyss, full of memorable and shivering, yet very atmospheric sounds. Kyles vocals are the essential thing thak hooks you in the very beginning, such a dark, raspy and emotional tone with lots of echo effect is captivating as hell and surprisingly very dynamic. Not to mention great rocking guitars and occasional raw leads played by Drew, for example in "Bound 'Round The World" and deep, very strong bass lines handled by Chris. Just listen how everything works out fine already in the opener "Air Dance" and reaches its high peak in the haunting chorus of too short "Dear Marquis". Each song has its own soul and drive that must be consumed over and over again, the exception is ambiental, so 80's smelling "Rain" that works out like a divider between two parts of the album.
To sum the things up, gothsters this is a thing for you and with kind of vintage, very raw production really draws the memories of the past. I'm just hopping that this band will continue making great things, I will certainly keep an eye on them. So, if you can't bring anything fresh into the genre than do things like Nights Sins have done on interesting titled album To London Or The Lake.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 8,5/10
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