www.facebook.com/Sindogs [Release date 01.08.23]
When I was compiling my “Best of” two decades in terms of ‘Live Acts’ for GRTR!@20 it would have been very tempting to include Zal Cleminson and /sin’dogs/ appearance at the 2019 ‘Giants Of Rock’. My GRTR! colleague Pete Whalley exercised no such restraint: “The band’s brutally heavy, and impenetrably dense wall of sound was unsparingly savage, but provided the perfect platform for an unforgettably charismatic virtuoso performance. Pure pantomime and one of the most memorable performances I’ve seen – ever.”
Sadly it wasn’t long afterwards that the band split with Zal and they have now re-emerged with this new EP. I assume that some songs had been left over from earlier times.
The band members have an excellent pedigree but only two remain from the original line-up: the redoubtable David Cowan (keys) and Nelson McFarlane (bass). Both played in an Alex Harvey “tribute” and so that influence remains.
Without Cleminson’s showmanship and authenticity would /sin’ dogs/ now be able to deliver? One of the characteristics of their excellent album “Vol 1.” was the heavy as hell vibe described by Joe Geesin: “There’s a definite enjoyable groove throughout the album, it’s mind-blowingly heavy, certainly compared to Zal’s more theatrical work that many will be familiar with.”
‘Renascence’ is simply superior melodic hard rock. Vocalist Peter Scallan (Moritz, Samson) makes a fine job of ‘Day Of Reckoning’ with quite wonderful synth/guitar breaks and characteristic “sin”-copated groove. This could even be the bastard offspring of Hughes/Thrall ‘Hold Out Your Life’. Yes we’re talking classic early 80s metal. ‘The Strange Door’ has echoes of early 90s House Of Lords mixed with Alex Harvey menace in the vocal department. I know, what a combination!
‘Knock Em Dead’ has a tremendous rock solid groove whilst ‘Dark Side Of Your Soul’ shows the softer side of the band with an orchestral approach and Andy McLaughlan’s guitar figures remaining an EP highlight.
Whilst it seems that /sin’dogs/ won’t completely shake off their Alex Harvey-related heritage in the live context, I look forward to more original material rather then any pastiche. Their second album is due later this year. ‘Renascence’ is a clear statement of intent. *****
Review by David Randall
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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