SINSAENUM — Echoes Of The Tortured (review)

SINSAENUM — Echoes Of The Tortured album cover

Album · 2016 · Death Metal

4/5 · 2016-12-12
UMUR

"Echoes of the Tortured" is the debut full-length studio album by multi-national death metal act Sinsaenum. The album was released through earMUSIC in July 2016. The early idea for the band was born in 1998 by guitarist/bassist/keyboard player Frédéric Leclercq (DragonForce, Menace), who wanted to start a death metal project. It wasn´t until 2010 that Sinsaenum was finally formed though, when Leclercq enlisted guitarist Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast) and drummer Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Vimic, Scar the Martyr, Muderdolls). The lineup was completed by bassist Heimoth (Decrepit Spectre, Seth, Void), and the two vocalists Sean Zatorsky (Dååth, Chimaira) and Attila Csihar (Gravetemple, Mayhem, Tormentor, Aborym).

Stylistically the music on "Echoes of the Tortured" is technically well played death metal, which is influenced by the early 90s US/Canadian death metal scene and artists like Gorguts, Brutality, and especially Morbid Angel. It´s relatively brutal but still sophisticated and cleverly composed death metal. Leclercq is obviously a skilled composer who understands the instruments and the boundaries of the genre (which means he doesn´t add anything to offend the most conservative listeners) but still manages to push those boundaries a little. Some of the lead guitar work on the album is for example nicely melodic and definitely influenced by his power metal day job. Not that´d you´d necessarily notice that upon initial listens, but giving the album more spins you´ll probably notice quite a few sophisticated details you won´t normally hear on a death metal release.

The material on the 21 track (there are quite a few shorter interlude tracks featured on the album), 65:36 minutes long album is well written and memorable. While it´s relatively catchy considering regular death metal standards, it´s not necessarily easily accessible music. One of the great assets of the album is the high level musicianship. While the vocals are fairly standard, albeit well performed, intelligible growling (with some raw shouting vocals and higher pitched screaming vocals occasionally added for effect), the drumming by Joey Jordison is high class, and the guitar work is also skillfully executed (The lead work is fast, melodic, and delivered with great technical finesse). It´s audible that these guys are seasoned professionals and everything is delivered with militant precision, but thankfully not in a sterile lifeless way. It´s intense, vibrant, and relatively raw and organic although the sound production is clear and detailed.

It´s not often you listen to a death metal album that´s 65:36 minutes long and not once during the playing time experience that your attention wanders, but "Echoes of the Tortured" is one such release. The many interludes work as little breathers between the regular death metal tracks, and while they do on occassion feel a little random and not necessarily placed with the best traclist flow in mind, I do think they fit very well on the album, and makes the listening experience a more diverse and interesting one. Upon conclusion "Echoes of the Tortured" is a high quality release by Sinsaenum and definitely a promising debut album. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.