CD Info
2011
Revalve Records
4 Tracks
English Lyrics

Until about a year ago, when I discovered Italian operatic metallers Crysalys, Italy as a producer of metal wasn't really on my radar much other than their big name export Lacuna Coil and an obscure band called Dunwich. But all of a sudden, after Crysalys, the country of Italy seemed to explode onto my radar with bands like Dama, Evenoire, Setanera, and probably others I can't remember right now. Then, about a month ago, though a random Facebook add, a band called SinHeresy popped up and I immediately checked them out and discovered that they are also of Italian origin. I liked what I heard, downloaded their EP, The Spiders and the Butterfly, from iTunes, and proceeded to enjoy.

The band's page on Metal Archives says they started out as a Nightwish cover band, but the band's Facebook page doesn't say anything about this, though it does give a biography that details how the current line-up was formed. This is a relatively young band, formed throughout 2009 and 2011, with the line-up being finalized in 2011 with the confirmation of Daniele Girardelli on keys. Helming the band's vocals are two singers, Cecilia Petrini and Stefano Sain, who does clean male vocals. Cecilia has an amazingly expressive voice and Stefano kind of reminds me of Joakim Broden's (of Sabaton) rough-around-the-edges style.

If SinHeresY was indeed a Nightwish cover band at one time, I can hear the influences in the music, specifically in how some of the songs are structured. But SinHeresY is not a Nightwish clone by any means; they have their own style, and while definitely symphonic, those elements are not beating you over the head. Their music is darker, as is their lyrical content. The central image of the spiders and the butterfly, the web, the cocoon are one indicator that this isn't a collection of mere lovelorn sappiness, and if you see the video for their single, "Temptation Flame" you'll see elements of a snuff film in there that are a tad bit racy.

"Temptation Flame" is the lead song on the EP, and it has a great rollicking pace, strong lyrics, and a nifty catchiness. It also sets up the dynamics between the two vocalists; all the songs are duets, but they have an interesting conversational, back-and-forth approach to them that ups the storytelling aspect of their songs and makes for a more emotionally captivating interplay than other duets I've heard.

It doesn't get more dark and dramatic than "Merciless Game", track 3 on the EP. The lyrics say it all:

Hey! Do you think that it's over?
I'm not through yet with you
Down in the spiral of your untold obsessions
you know I can drag you everywhere I want
Aren't you tired of playing
hunter and prey with me?
Oh, really I don't need to hunt you
you were and you are always in my hands

And where would any band in this genre be without a fantastic power ballad? And SinHeresY has one in "Forever Us", which has everything in it that makes a ballad fanatic like myself get all giddy inside. It starts off soft and pretty, again complete with another very catchy chorus, and builds with the drums, electric guitar, and bass all coming in to create a heavy backdrop to the main melody. And since it's a duet, there is the additional plus of their not only being that interplay between singers again, but some nice harmonies as well. This song is really one of the highlights of the album for me.

The final track, "When Darkness Falls" starts off with a moody, slightly ominous symphonic intro, and then bursts to life with pounding riffs and a great, face-paced, gallopping tempo. This song builds to the end, too, culminating in using all of the band's combined talents and their symphonic elements to create a frenzied feeling where you cannot help but headbang. It's a strong end to a strong EP.

SinHeresY is definitely a band to watch out for on the scene. I think they are talented and driven enough to go far, and with The Spiders and the Butterfly they have a powerful work to offer the world of metal. They have certainly captivated me in their web!

9 / 10

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