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Brand New Sin
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Tequila
Century Media
Release: 10/03/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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When I got my copy of the brand new Brand New Sin CD
(that's
almost as fun to type as it is to say) I was smilin' from
ear to ear. One of my favorite bands of the new millennium
is back with their third album Tequila and I
couldn't be happier.
I was first introduced to these Syracuse, NY fellas back in
mid-2002 when a friend of mine gave me a promo copy of
their debut, self-titled record. He told me, "Hey man, these
guys are right up your alley. They're a mix of Corrosion Of
Conformity and Black Label Society." I checked it out and
dug the shit outta it.
Later that year, I went up to Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield,
VA to see BLS, where Brand New Sin was the opening band.
Little did I know that in May of 2003, my band Sourmouth
would open for them and Isabelle's Gift for the band's first
show in Raleigh, NC. I knew these guys were special and
would go far - all in due time. I've seen them live
somewhere around twelve times total and would go back at
the drop of a hat.
Tequila is the follow-up to the band's
sophomore record - and Century Media full-length debut -
Recipe For Disaster (which just happened to be
my favorite album of that year.) Can the new one follow
such a monumental release? I'm about to let ya
know.
"Did Me Wrong" kicks like an infuriated mule. This song is
similar to somethin' off Pantera's Vulgar Display Of
Power and is full of piss and vinegar like any strong
metal song should be. "The Proposition" keeps things true to
form employing the band's signature sound. Singer Joe Altier
belts out the chorus "So don't propose/this is your
calling/even Christ could not keep you alive!" That's just the
tip of the iceberg for this song.
"Old" takes the band in a slightly different direction with a
beguiling chorus that seems a tad more mainstream than
past songs. Mind you all I DID NOT say "commercial."
Producer Joey Z., best known for his work with Stereomud
and Life Of Agony produced this record and this song reflects
that more than any other.
If the ultra deep voice on "Reaper Man" sounds familiar, it's
probably because it's Peter Steele of Type O Negative. This
song could easily be a leftover from the band's debut record.
This is just fine with me, as this record not only shows the
band evolving, but also going back to the sound of what
made them to begin with. To combine the new with the old is
the magic ingredient for any band's survival.
The disc closes with a cover of the song made famous by
The Animals, "House Of The Rising Sun." This song has been
covered by every band - and their grandmother's band - so
to do it again takes stones. I dig the song but I wanted to
put it to a more rigorous test. I asked a friend of mine who
was into Rock N' Roll when the song originally came out and
has since heard the large majority of the covers as well. I
didn't tell him it was BNS because he knows I love the band
and would say it was good even if it wasn't. He approved,
therefore reinforcing my theory it rocked!
[That's right, we here at NowOnTour do in-depth
research to
bring you as close to quality reviews as possible. There's
only one way to truly find out and I suggest you take that
chance.]
In summary, I must say I hope this review doesn't come
across with any bias, due to my knowledge and past
interactions with the band. In reality, reviews of this sort are
often at times the hardest to write. To take a band or artist
in which you know nothing of sets the stage at ground zero
and includes no expectations. The burden of expectations
means you have a standard to go by and always fear the
possibility of the dreaded "suck factor."
For the record, I would undoubtedly tell it like it is for such
an occasion. Thankfully, I don't have to for
Tequila. Though not quite as potent as
Recipe For Disaster, if the only standards a
band has to match is their own, that's a compliment in
itself.
The sticker adorning this album's jewel case reads much like
the last two. "For fans of COC and BLS." That's all fine and
dandy but I, for one, am tired of that. It's the third album
from BNS and it's beyond time the sticker should read,
"Sounds like Brand New Sin at their finest!" |
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