Seaside dwelling SAINTTHESINNER‘s debut EP, ‘Da Vinci’s Demise’ is an interesting poke at metalcore meets post-hardcore. The results are a tad mismatched; the screamed vocals of Dimitri Gjiknuri can be found in the verses and the squeaky-clean choruses comes from Graham Rogers – the two mix together a little like oil and water.
This is not to say that you should write them off – bands like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are among many that have managed to reach an equilibrium with juxtaposed vocals – but a better amalgamation of the two wouldn’t go awry for SAINTTHESINNER. Take, for example, ‘Jokers Grin’ : alone, the growls tick all the boxes and the classic post-hardcore moan found in the chorus can also stand its ground, but the problem is that the two seem to be sellotaped together.
That said, there are plenty of breakdowns, pounding drums and shred to be found, and the synths and electric drums thrown in throughout add a nice touch and another edge to STS’s sound – even if at times their addition appears a little contrived (on the bridge of ‘7000’ you would be forgiven for thinking that your iPod had skipped to 90s clubland).
Overall, SAINTTHESINNER are struggling with an identity crisis. In one breath they want to emulate ATTACK ATTACK! and in the other FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, and though this isn’t the most ambitious of combinations, the band need to execute it better – they certainly have the potential to do so in the future.
RAMSEY MARWAN