Already impressive out of the gate with a debut album The Mirror Star in 2020, Chilean heavy/power metal outfit Sinner’s Blood got the chance to support said release with a domestic tour, including some dates with Symphony X to expand their following. Dark Horizons as the follow-up continues to showcase the band content to explore all facets of power, progressive, and traditional/melodic metal, especially drawing from a host of past/present European / American influences. Versatility between these musicians allows this songwriting to push upper facets of heaviness, hooks, and melody / harmony extensions which should ensure maximum retention from first to successive playbacks.
Modern crunchy, staccato / groove-oriented components sit next to some musically impressive / intricate sequences, where guitarist / keyboardist Nasson can flex all of abilities on both instruments – creating instantaneous aural earworms for the one-two firepower punch “Bound” and “Enemy”. Even if certain segments can be speedy or intense in nature, the sophistication ensures a circular motion riff to riff so that the transitions are razor sharp – where drummer Guillermo Pereira captivates in his avid tempo changes plus controlled sense of when to showcase more thunderous fills or just lay back in the pocket to serve best the atmosphere / arrangement on hand. The calmer to heavier dynamics at play create some punchy offerings that will sweep the listener into Evergrey meets Masterplan pastures – the vocals of James Robledo husky as much as shimmering in multi-octave metal splendor, like his heroes Ronnie James Dio or Russell Allen. Keyboard spots / orchestration set up vivid pictures next to some heavier, Primal Fear-styled riffs – allowing for energetic contrasts during a more mid-tempo arrangement like “Poison” where a simplified chorus easily embeds itself deep into your body. These records wouldn’t be complete without an emotional ballad – and that’s what you’ll get in the acoustic driven “The Voice Within” that showcases higher register note inflections that could cause teardrops.
Sinner’s Blood aren’t exactly breaking new ground through their influence tree on Dark Horizons – and that’s okay. Many will appreciate the songwriting first approach to their blend of melodic power meets modern progressive metal ethics, and there’s plenty of ideal moments to treasure that could help the band ascend the ranks for a following, popularity, and better touring/ festival billing.