Saints of Insanity
We were contacted by Saints of Insanity a while back about their music to see if we could get something up and posted. Another band from across the pond, this California band is on the move with their own unique take on metal, drawing on the influences of each of the band members to provide a unique style. I thought it only fair therefore to give them a listen and to see what was on offer! This is another band whose album was produced and arranged by Josh Rumer of Invengo Productions, so this was yet another album which I was really looking forward to checking out. (Please note – the order of the tracks below isn’t necessarily the order in which they appear on their album Beyond Redemption, purely the order they are in my music here!)
Our Sacrifice opens fading in to a dark and durgy bass line, bringing in the guitars and drums to further develop the depth of the track, then smashing it down to just the drums, bass line and vocals to make sure you’re paying attention. As the track kicks in properly you’re pummelled by soaring vocal lines, pinch harmonic laden guitars and rolling drums, the mix is a lot to take in at first but it’s all right there. The bass is kept right there in the mix throughout which adds even more depth to things, this track is seriously well accomplished on every level. Almost catchy at times, this track is a perfect introduction to these guys for me, it shows off every single instrument in their arsenal and proves their ability to play them – as a guitarist the solo was enough proof of this for me!
Shine In by contrast opens much darker and almost bluesy at first before kicking into a rolling section of drums, pounding bass lines, soaring lead lines and gravelly vocals. Sounding akin to Avenged Sevenfold musically, the vocals raise the music from that relatively basic comparison to something new, effectively creating a genre which is unique to these guys. Till The Day is another example of this as well, opening with rolling drums, hammering guitar lines and the most epic scream you’ll hear on an album! Kicking into an almost funky section of riffing guitars, roving bass lines and pounding drums, this track is one which will have you cranking the volume up ever higher as it progresses and singing along in the chorus with the multi layered vocals to the lines of ‘Till the day I die’ – still going strong here!
True Lies opens dark once again, using the lead line again to suggest the darkness over the syncopated drums and roving bass line. There’s something really haunting about the way this track kicks in initially, adopting an almost Christmas style sound as it builds into the chorus – it’s so hard to explain but listen and you’ll understand what I mean there! Kicking into an almost anthemic chorus the vocals steal the show and power the track onwards, this is metal yet somehow it’s been crafted into something new, I don’t really know how to explain it! Further evidence of this is Fail To Believe, opening with a roar and kicking into a bass heavy mixture of off beat drums, riffing guitars and spat vocals – the mix almost sounds wrong at first but after a couple of listens you realise it’s just well put together. Breaking into a melodic section for the chorus which further accentuates all of the instruments in the band, you find yourself picking out different instruments and listening to what they’re doing, it’s pretty awesome to behold when you hear it! Personally, this is my favourite track on the album from these guys, there’s something about it which really appeals to my musical tastes.
In Flesh is another change for the band, opening dark and sludgy with roving bass lines, spoken vocals, pinch harmonic laden guitar lines and hammering drums, this is dark stuff here. The vocals once again soar above everything here, taking on different styles with aplomb from roaring to screaming to almost Disturbed like high notes. Kicking into a chorus which almost sounds disjointed at first, this is another track which will sit you back and make you question everything you’ve heard so far and how it all fits together, yet it somehow does. Continuing this theme, Loaded adopts an almost funky beat, adopting a rolling beat on the drums and some almost Zakk Wylde style riffs from the guitars. The bass underpins everything once the track kicks in properly, still high in the mix it’s right there to be heard which is awesome. Keeping the pace going over the drums and guitars, the vocals once again soar and lead you through the track as it progresses, this is another one which you have to hear to believe! What’s really struck me throughout all the tracks is the musical ability of these guys, there’s so many things going on that at times you question how on earth you’ve not heard of them yet, seriously accomplished stuff.
Majesty is another funk tinged track, kicking in with the guitars and bass leading the way, the drums adopting a more thrashy style beat to open before bringing in the vocals once again. Alternating the vocals between clean and gravelly once again, this track is another example of how this band can morph from one sound to another without losing a single beat on the way. The one downfall on this track is it somehow seems to lack power compared to the others before it, I don’t know why it is but there seems to be a cap on things power wise, musically it’s as awesome as before. As if to prove a point, Please Don’t Do It opens soft with cleaned up guitar lines, powerful without the distortion already. The vocals take a haunting approach over the music, almost echoing around as you listen to the track and pulling you into the mix, listening ever harder to make sure you don’t miss anything. Building into the track properly, the guitars take on a slight distortion in the back ground but primarily, the main layer of the track is kept clean which adds further power to the anguished cries of ‘please don’t do it’.
Regenerate finishes the selection perfectly for me, opening with those riffing guitars and slamming bass lines, this is the power which I was looking for from these guys. Adopting an almost Disturbed style beat once again, this track is another example of a band who can mash together different influences (also helped by the mixing expertise of Stewart Cararas) and create a sound which is their own. Layered vocals, hammering guitar lines, rolling drums – once again it’s all here for you to hear, and you should check it out!
Saints Of Insanity have recently parted ways with their drummer, and I personally think it’s a real shame as from what I’ve heard here, the band worked incredibly well as a unit. That said, new blood in a band brings in new influences so it could be good in the long term – either way it’ll be interesting to see what comes next. Based on this though, you should definitely check these guys out whilst you can, their music soars above their influences and creates a sound which will make you sit back and just think wow, I wish I could do that!
To find out more about Saints of Insanity, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Our Sacrifice opens fading in to a dark and durgy bass line, bringing in the guitars and drums to further develop the depth of the track, then smashing it down to just the drums, bass line and vocals to make sure you’re paying attention. As the track kicks in properly you’re pummelled by soaring vocal lines, pinch harmonic laden guitars and rolling drums, the mix is a lot to take in at first but it’s all right there. The bass is kept right there in the mix throughout which adds even more depth to things, this track is seriously well accomplished on every level. Almost catchy at times, this track is a perfect introduction to these guys for me, it shows off every single instrument in their arsenal and proves their ability to play them – as a guitarist the solo was enough proof of this for me!
Shine In by contrast opens much darker and almost bluesy at first before kicking into a rolling section of drums, pounding bass lines, soaring lead lines and gravelly vocals. Sounding akin to Avenged Sevenfold musically, the vocals raise the music from that relatively basic comparison to something new, effectively creating a genre which is unique to these guys. Till The Day is another example of this as well, opening with rolling drums, hammering guitar lines and the most epic scream you’ll hear on an album! Kicking into an almost funky section of riffing guitars, roving bass lines and pounding drums, this track is one which will have you cranking the volume up ever higher as it progresses and singing along in the chorus with the multi layered vocals to the lines of ‘Till the day I die’ – still going strong here!
True Lies opens dark once again, using the lead line again to suggest the darkness over the syncopated drums and roving bass line. There’s something really haunting about the way this track kicks in initially, adopting an almost Christmas style sound as it builds into the chorus – it’s so hard to explain but listen and you’ll understand what I mean there! Kicking into an almost anthemic chorus the vocals steal the show and power the track onwards, this is metal yet somehow it’s been crafted into something new, I don’t really know how to explain it! Further evidence of this is Fail To Believe, opening with a roar and kicking into a bass heavy mixture of off beat drums, riffing guitars and spat vocals – the mix almost sounds wrong at first but after a couple of listens you realise it’s just well put together. Breaking into a melodic section for the chorus which further accentuates all of the instruments in the band, you find yourself picking out different instruments and listening to what they’re doing, it’s pretty awesome to behold when you hear it! Personally, this is my favourite track on the album from these guys, there’s something about it which really appeals to my musical tastes.
In Flesh is another change for the band, opening dark and sludgy with roving bass lines, spoken vocals, pinch harmonic laden guitar lines and hammering drums, this is dark stuff here. The vocals once again soar above everything here, taking on different styles with aplomb from roaring to screaming to almost Disturbed like high notes. Kicking into a chorus which almost sounds disjointed at first, this is another track which will sit you back and make you question everything you’ve heard so far and how it all fits together, yet it somehow does. Continuing this theme, Loaded adopts an almost funky beat, adopting a rolling beat on the drums and some almost Zakk Wylde style riffs from the guitars. The bass underpins everything once the track kicks in properly, still high in the mix it’s right there to be heard which is awesome. Keeping the pace going over the drums and guitars, the vocals once again soar and lead you through the track as it progresses, this is another one which you have to hear to believe! What’s really struck me throughout all the tracks is the musical ability of these guys, there’s so many things going on that at times you question how on earth you’ve not heard of them yet, seriously accomplished stuff.
Majesty is another funk tinged track, kicking in with the guitars and bass leading the way, the drums adopting a more thrashy style beat to open before bringing in the vocals once again. Alternating the vocals between clean and gravelly once again, this track is another example of how this band can morph from one sound to another without losing a single beat on the way. The one downfall on this track is it somehow seems to lack power compared to the others before it, I don’t know why it is but there seems to be a cap on things power wise, musically it’s as awesome as before. As if to prove a point, Please Don’t Do It opens soft with cleaned up guitar lines, powerful without the distortion already. The vocals take a haunting approach over the music, almost echoing around as you listen to the track and pulling you into the mix, listening ever harder to make sure you don’t miss anything. Building into the track properly, the guitars take on a slight distortion in the back ground but primarily, the main layer of the track is kept clean which adds further power to the anguished cries of ‘please don’t do it’.
Regenerate finishes the selection perfectly for me, opening with those riffing guitars and slamming bass lines, this is the power which I was looking for from these guys. Adopting an almost Disturbed style beat once again, this track is another example of a band who can mash together different influences (also helped by the mixing expertise of Stewart Cararas) and create a sound which is their own. Layered vocals, hammering guitar lines, rolling drums – once again it’s all here for you to hear, and you should check it out!
Saints Of Insanity have recently parted ways with their drummer, and I personally think it’s a real shame as from what I’ve heard here, the band worked incredibly well as a unit. That said, new blood in a band brings in new influences so it could be good in the long term – either way it’ll be interesting to see what comes next. Based on this though, you should definitely check these guys out whilst you can, their music soars above their influences and creates a sound which will make you sit back and just think wow, I wish I could do that!
To find out more about Saints of Insanity, check out their Facebook page HERE.
