Album Review: Sin - Pilgrimage EP

By Denyong(rakista.com/v1)

Album: Pilgrimage EP.
Artist: SIN
Released: 2004

Tracklisting:
1. Burning Hour
2. Pilgrimage
3. All In Vain
4. Regeneration

I have no doubts that Cavite's SIN can dethrone any competing local bands for the throne of the most prestigious World Battle of the Bands competition. And I have two words for this band; f*cking brutal! And, in my opinion, this is how local metal should sound like.

They are starting this stop-and-go riff delivery with matching blast beats and a vocalist sounding a cross between Max Cavalera and Glenn Benton, which bodes well with their mixture of grindcore, death, and thrash metal.

"Burning Hour" starts with a tormented voice of an individual who must've had fresh, third-degree burns. Then goes off with a blast beat sounding like Deicide. But the fun part starts with a fast crunches (1:10-1:18 ). The catchy chorus line "This is my... Burning Hour!" may sound easy to the ear but the angst of it dominates a majority of the uninitiated. Another ear catching is the marvelous footwork of Macoy on double peddling on some parts (3:24-3:53).

A great start from the song "Pilgrimage" from the very fast but heavy guitar riffing fused together with some drum parts. This time the vocals sounds even more brutal, and no doubt that Gil Christ Tan is the most meanest metal guitar player as he shows off an almost death metal riffing (3:03-3:23). And again, the overall crunches to the end of the song is really impressive.

"All in Vain" is an all-out crunch guitar-riff galore. Notice the maturity of their lyrics from all throughout the EP. Grindcore, death and thrash mostly tackles various themes from blood and gore, to religion and twisted politics of the like. SIN just expressed those classifications with a deeper meaning. So its time to call your "DEMONS!!".

And kicking off the EP is "Regeneration". A lot of guitar downpicking and this may be their best track off the EP. I kept on thinking how much Charles Daza sounded like Max Cavalera in this wicked track. Great guitar work (4:53-5:12) will confuse the listener whether a tremolo is used or so much finger picking created this sound.

I'm really so anxious to grab a copy if ever SIN will release a full length album. If this four track EP seemingly ripped the skin off my body then what if I listen to all their songs? Their WBOB bet "Amorphosis" already blew me away. A newbie may only discharge an earwax for the first time he/she would listen to this EP, but for the true-blooded metal fan, you may want your ears to bleed and cry out "bleed me more, bleed me more!!"