SISTER SIN – Switchblade Serenades

Since about six months ago, Gothenburg-based Sister Sin is not Sweden’s possibly most well-known unsigned Hard Rock band anymore. Especially after some six years of gigging and supporting the likes of W.A.S.P. (one of the band’s musical heritages it seems) and a handful of demos as well as underground releases (Dance of the Wicked). Switchblade Serenades marks Sister Sin’s official first proper release, unleashed via Metal Heaven, yet follows quite suit and hot on the heels of the self-made EP Smash the Silence. The title of said EP might prove apt as well, certainly if this “white trash” (according to themselves) tattooed bunch manage to make as big a name for themselves around the rest of Europe as that of their homeland. Add to that being voted for a performance at Sweden Rock earlier in the year, 2008 shapes up as yet another climbing year for Sister Sin thus far; that’s justified for a band that for years has been quite generous in providing a bulk of it’s recorded music for free listening via it’s web site.

As for the songs, long-time ear-servers (hey! a new word!) will recognize much of the material present on Switchblade Serenades with some new, including the title track, served together on the disc. This band sounds a lot like early Mötley Crüe, with the likes of the aforementioned W.A.S.P. and possibly early Ratt thrown in the mix, but, especially Shout-era Mötley for sure, with ”Eye to Eye” being a throwback of sorts to ”Red Hot” and the likes. The simple and catchy riffs alongside the shout-along (no pun intended) choruses and the punctuated steady drumming and you have Sister Sin. As for the female vocals, they’re not far off either (Vince Neil always sounded feminine anyways). Only better, but that’s a given. Hell, Sister Sin even sports more tattoo’s than the Mötley’s could had hoped for themselves around 1986. So, as it goes, some of the lyrics (i.e. ”we’re breaking new ground, this is the new sound”) isn’t exactly the appropriate words to describe their music, Sister Sin feels pretty genuine with their approach (“give it to me straight”, “you want a piece of me – I get you!”).

”On Parole” sees the band taking on a more melodic skin, and remains maybe the best song in the group’s repertoire so far, with vocalist Liv stretching her voice to be as fit as the appearance of her bod suggests. ”Make My Day,” even though it’s an interesting and non-predictable choice to cover from the vast Motörhead catalogue, comes off as slightly messy though.

The group’s setback at this point in time is it’s somewhat reserved outlook on it’s own music; a slight more variety wouldn’t hurt during a forty-five minute listening session even for the enthusiast. The production, which does not better that of their demos, serves as a great disappointment and could had been worked on to make for a smoother impression without sacrificing the band’s raw charm in the process, even though the strength of the songs still stay prevail. These are traits which will probably evolve anyways, and as a whole the band makes up for it in energy and a well above average knack for memorable quality than what is common in the Sleaze Rock genre. Thus Switchblade Serenades makes for a most welcome arrival at last for Sister Sin.