As a big fan of Sister Sin it was a huge disappointment when they decided to call it quits back in 2015 after almost 15 years and on the threshold of their big break. However, singer and frontwoman Liv Jagrell didn’t sit idle for long and went to work forming her own outfit, a somewhat solo-band under the Liv Sin moniker, something I’m thankful for. Jagrell is one hell of a singer and one of the best front-persons I have ever witnessed live. That being said, Liv Sin’s debut Follow Me (2017) was a bit of a disappointment for me. Not bad at all but I missed the big hooks and melody-sense that Sister Sin had. The follow-up Burning Sermons (2019) was a step-up which had me hoping that the new record will be another bettered release from the band.
The lead-off single “The Process” which opens the album is one powerhouse beast. It’s a mid-paced kidney-punch of a song with a hammering and slammin’ beat, heavy as damn with some more modern yet dark riffage. Jagrell alternates clean, high and edgy vocals with some growls. It also holds a symphonic element with an ominous keyboard which brings an evil atmosphere over the hard-hitting metal punches. A good tune and a good way to open this album. The synth-parts that opens the single “Antihero” in the verse is reminiscent of a computer-game but it goes on heavy and robust on a poundy beat in mid-tempo. The chorus is on a faster track, headbang-pleasing with a direct hook and the “boom” part will be great live for call-and-response moments. Very good.
Made out of piss n’ vinegar and sheer attitude, “King Of Fools” comes on like a bulldozer, heavy and fast with shitloads of balls. On a galloping rhythm, the song is a plain kick-ass, fist-in-the-face hard-rocker with a contagious groove and on top comes a chorus that makes me think back to Sister Sin, totally impossible not to surrender to. Awesome! The heavy stomper “Forget My Name” is built on a beefy, rough rhythm and some classic Heavy Metal riffing with an atmospheric keyboard as a spice. With easily accessible melodies and hooks in every corner the call-and-response chorus is simply magnificent. This should be a single because it has rock-radio hit written all over it. Very good.
“Karma” is a stone-hard and heavy metal-blaster that grabs a hold of your throat and kicks and bites. It’s a frantic and aggressive puncher where the atmospheric, eerie and darkening keyboards gives the song an extra edge. Jagrell’s ballsy vocals makes for a cool contrast with the catchy chorus hooks which also gives the song another dynamic. Very cool, very good. Latest single “I Am The Storm” is a real beast. It starts out with a monster riff but continues in a slower pace, even a bit held-back with ballady verses that brings on some cinematic orchestration. The song then takes a heavier turn with dark and rough-edged guitars but also big keyboards that brings on a dynamic vibe. The contrast between the softer parts and the more aggressive ones is splendid and the whole song is a real winner.
“Virus” is made of pure heaviness, rowdy and aggressive with tuned-down guitars, slammin’ drums, a kicking bass and some Black Metal fueled keyboards where Jagrell’s vocals are pissed-off and bites hard. The laid-back passages again makes for a dynamic nature and the melodies are all memorable with a kicking chorus on top. Good one. The slow-paced, dark and heavy “D.E.R.” (Destroy, Extinct, Repeat) has Liv bringing in Zak Tell (Clawfinger) and Eleine (Eleine) as guest-vocalists. With beefy riffing and some edgy yet very clean singing here and there gives the tune a dynamic vibe and direct refrain throws an instant hook our way. Very good.
Speaking of contrasts – “The Swarm” opens with a smooth 80’s sounding keyboard but soon takes on a high tempo with rowdy guitars and a fast rhythm with drums going totally bonkers behind the fat, beefy and tight riffage. It’s a very in-your-face and hard-hitting number with some growling from Liv as well but some smoother keyboards are also intertwined with the screaming guitars. Good one. The album closes on a slower note with the punchy hard-rocker “Horizon In Black”. It starts out like a weird music-box before muscular guitars comes in bringing along a rhythmic yet kidney-punchy beat where Jagrell’s powerhouse vocals brings the big melodies and the magnificent, sing-along friendly chorus to a higher level. A fantastic song and one of the highlights of the album.
In my book, this is Liv Sin’s finest moment to date. It’s an aggressive, heavy and hard record that contains both clean, powerful vocals and a growl here and there but it’s also quite melodic in the same way Sister Sin was. The blending of dark and eerie sounds, pure heaviness and striking melodies that are more often than not even catchy gives the album a contagious edge and on this album it feels like all pieces have started to fit. Jagrell is, as always, brilliant – that woman is so full of attitude – and with her she has a band that fires on all cylinders too. A powerhouse record with very few filler-moments. Well done.
7/10
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Tracklist:
1. The Process
2. Antihero
3. King Of Fools
4. Forget My Name
5. Karma
6. I Am The Storm
7. Virus
8. D.E.R.
9. The Swarm
10. Horizon In Black
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