EP REVIEW: Sinocence slam your senses into submission on No Gods, No Masters Vol. 3

BATTERED and delighted is the only way to describe the experience of listening to Sinocence's third volume in 'No Gods, No Masters' ep trilogy.

While the first two volumes were great, smart, well-executed releases this long anticipated conclusion to the trilogy is a thrashing, kicking, angry, angst-ridden exorcism of past demons allied with punishing musicianship.

Personal and political lyricism is matched with intense metal playing. Fom the opening bars of 'Full Spectral Dominance' you know that your aural tracts will be blasted and your brain numb in blissful delight.

What is immediately apparent is that Sinocence are not afraid to allow each track to breathe, lengthy explorations of the music and words. The playing is onomatopoeic, perfectly matching the sense of the themes such as the period on 'Bilateral' where it slows down to match the frustration at ideology before a riff and solo slam you down.

The lengthening of the songs shows confidence and courage. While many of Sinocence's contemporaries across Europe still keep to the three-to-four minute formula this is metal, strident, aware and chock full of thematic elements that you can lose a day re-listening and re-listening, discovering more and more subtleties.

Frankie McClay's production allow the songs to have both heft and delicacy within the maelstrom. There is no muddiness evident, separation allows the listener to assess each element and revel in it.

There is so much passion on each track - and no fear in singing about issues from political misdeeds through to the refugee crisis on the furious 'Mind Over Murder' Yeah, fuck you Daily Mail, Sinocence murder your lies here.

The titular 'No Gods, No Masters' just has to be heard. Awesome doesn't even come close. It is the culmination of the band's journey; a song that espouses who and what Sinocence is about.

But lest you think that amidst the whirl of the songs on display the assault is one-dimensional this EP shows that melody can be incorporated in singing and playing - deployed in the right ratio to delight.

What Sinocence have proved on 'No Gods, No Masters Vol 3' is that they have vitality in what they do, and how they do it.

To say it is essential listening is an understatement. It is a must listen release in 2017.

Review by Jonathan Traynor

NEWS: Sinocence to celebrate 15 years of metal muscle with October show and video release

SINOCENCE will celebrate their 15th year of loudness and producing damn fine metal for fans in Northern Ireland, the UK and further afield.

With a host of great releases under their belt, and now two thirds of the way through their 'No Gods, No Masters' trilogy and the last one being recorded they have battled through a host of issues and now are stronger than ever.

With horns still raised high they are playing a birthday show on October 1st and have released a new video.

The show will see the Sinners headline a powerful line-up with Gasoline Outlaws, Two Tales of Woe and S.L.U.T.S in Limelight2.

The video is for the track 'Ascension Code' from NGNM2 and was produced by Andy Pilkington from Very Metal Art. Watch it below.

INTERVIEW: Sinocence: 13 years, new release, stormer of a gig coming on Saturday and much more

SINOCENCE. If you look carefully in the dictionary you'll see Sinocence's picture next to the definition of 'stalwarts'. And, that's not a negative thing for a band that has been developing and growing.

Now as the band prepare to celebrate their 13th birthday party we pinned Anthony McCaughley to the floor, and threatened to take away his guitar until he told us a little about those 13 years, what was coming next for Sinocence and...well a lot more. Including a declaration about keeping going and going... 

Back in 2001, to quote Douglas Adams: "men were men, women were women and small green furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were small green furry creatures from Alpha Centauri" and metal was once again rising, undefeated by trends or fashions, and the 'Sinners' were just starting off.

Looking back on it Anto had this to say: "Christ, that’s so long ago!, when we started I can honestly say there were no expectations at all. I can remember just wanting to get playing at RocKD in Belfast. Coming from Lurgan, Belfast was the “Big Smoke”. 

"There was nothing going on compared to what its like now in the local scene.  We were just happy to get a carryout and hit practice."


And, the band really didn't expect to be still going. "I’d have to say not a chance in hell," said the six-string slinger. 

"Things happen, people move away, get married, have kids.  You don’t tend to think will I be doing this coming 40!! Still, the feeling in the room when we play and write is as fresh as its ever bee.  When that stops,  then we’ll stop. We’ll not be faking it.

It has been quite a ride, at which they have played with rock and metal luminaries such as W.A.S.P., Prong and many more.

But was there an act that Sinocence learned from? 

"Out of all the bands we’ve played with we learnt the most on the Blaze Bayley tour," said Anto.  "About what to do and more importantly what not to do. 

"Playing has never been an issue in the band, it's more being prepared and having the right gear. We got a lot of great advice from Jay, one of Blaze’s guitarists at the time.  The Fyredogs in Germany just laughed at our gear haha when they seen it.

"This, and Jim, joining prompted the move from pedal boards to real tube sound. On the live front you can’t help but learn from bands like Machine Head and Prong… pure Pros."

Machine Head is also a gig that features highly in the memorable top shows the band have played, and we wanted to know what was the band's top gig, and what has been the favourite show Anto has attended

"Played? Over 13 years that’s a tough one. Nottingham  Rock City sticks right up there but then the local shows we did in Lurgan looking back were fucking crazy!. Off the chart, never see that level of intensity at any of the locals shows these days.

 

"To pin it down though to one show  it would have to the Machine Head gig in Belfast.  A band like that, sold out show. Pure volume! Was just fantastic!

"Attended? Flying in the face of metal and thrash the Skid Row/Ugly Kid Joe gig in Dublin was just another level.  The vibe between band and audience was something else, everyone looked like they were loving every second of it. Super positive gig and just tapped right into that."

At recent shows Sinocence have played tracks from the long-awaited Vol. 2 of No Gods, No Masters. When can we expect to hear it? 

"Closer than everyone thinks!" he said. "We’ve four and a half done so just the final part of song five. Looking at going into the studio end of October. 

 

"Songs feel really fresh and the reaction to the ones we’ve played live has been great so we’ll be ready to nail that down soon."

 

When that is down the challenge for Sinocence is what lies in store for the next 13 years?

"Well, 'No Gods, No Masters' Vols 2 & 3 will be getting finished", said Anto. "We’ll be shooting a few videos and hopefully hitting the UK next year for a few festival dates and shows with the UK bands we have been bringing over this year.

 

"But we have delusions or wild dreams. We're not too concerned about getting signed or any of that stuff.

 

"We are self-signed and we are best sorting ourselves! As I said there as long as the energy is up and the band are writing decent material we will continue."

With 13 years behind them it's also a time to reflect on what Sinocence would like to see as their legacy.

 

"Touring the world 5 times over with Slayer after 13.5 years on the go!!" said the guitarist.

 

"Seriously though its something I never been asked before to be honest. 

 

"Has to be the song writing and hard work. Ask any band together for awhile how hard it is to keep it going. It takes stamina and real will to do it.  I am proud of the fact that we are still going and proud that we are the strongest we’ve ever been at the minute."

 

Anto continued: "Sounds nuts but it's just how we are feeling at the minute.  The new songs are rocking, we have a fantastic back catalogue to choose from live, our gears now top notch.

 

"I’ll tell you what, ask me that again in five years. I'm not ready to fully answer that fucking question just yet!"

On Saturday 6^th September in  Limelight2, The Sinocence 13th Birthday Party Bash takes place featuring Ourselves, Collaspe (UK), By Any Means, Cutter & Donum Dei.  Doors at 4pm.

 

Anto said: This bill is one of the strongest you’ll see this year! Get down early muckers! "

\And we're  NOT READY FOR STOPPING ANYTIME SOON!!! \m/>< \m/"

 

Normally we don't let anyone use capital letters like that, but he seemed so emphatic...