Review: “Infernal Dawn” by Sinistrum

Having already proven their worth to the World of Extreme Metal by playing vital roles in the likes of Abominant, Effigy, Blood Curse and Coffin Stench a group of seasoned veterans joined forces in 2020, their collective mission to decimate the weak with a furious brand of Death Metal. The last piece of the puzzle was vocalist Scott Briggs who joined in 2021 and whose role is not to be understated having also recorded, mixed and mastered the bands 2022 debut EP “Trichotomy of Death“. Now it is time for the Kentucky quintet to unleash their debut album “Infernal Dawn“, for which he repeats those practices. Adorned by artwork from Juanjo Castellano (Abominated, The Bleeding, The Black Dahlia Murder) this one comes from Elizabethtown Kentucky with love…

Foreboding Doom infused Death Metal riffs sound the warning that something wicked this way comes with title track “Infernal Dawn“, the band cutting the tension of the atmosphere with razor sharp riffs from axe wielding duo Garrett Netto and Timmie Ball to accompany some blood curdling roars from the aforementioned Biggs. A flame retardant suit is a pre-requisite to be able to listen to the scorching and yet sinister solo while the Old School roots in 90’s Death Metal are as obvious as bloodstains on a flannel shirt. Injecting an unhealthy dose of adrenaline “Abomination Rising” finds Briggs sounding almost feral, his cryptic writings leading us into the very bowels of hell itself as the thunderous kit work from Craig Netto pounds the skull like he’s a Miner at the coal face. The dark atmospherics are incredible, the track a testament to time spent at the grindstone in rehearsal to smooth the jagged edges. Flirting with Melodic Death Metal leads “Godforsaken and Bleeding” goes off like a neutron bomb, destroying everything in close proximity and leaving scorch marks in its wake. That continues into “Legacy in Barbarity“, a vicious little ditty with tastefully inked poison pen lyrics that plays out at the tempo of the damned. What’s interesting about this one is the band flirt with clean vocals in the melodic moments but in an indirect fashion, hiding them behind the unclean layer so they’re not at the forefront of the sound. Naysayers will no doubt accuse the band of selling out but actually here that works well because it enhances the richness of the melodic guitar part. Adding to that there is a sinister spoken work moment and a ripper of a solo, both of which elevate the track to a whole new realm of existence. 

If there was the anticipation or even expectation of a soft centre with that clean sung moment then “Death Omen” proves that the band aren’t those kind of people as they come out from their cave all guns blazing with a neck snapping cut that finds Craig Netto blasting. A tour de force that showcases what this band are about, they bring out the earworm riffs of the hummable variety, the kind that once they have invaded your brain refuse to leave. This dog keeps barking with “Morbid Reality“, a cut front loaded with guitars that flirt with more technical playing with immaculate leads that threaten to spill into the virtuoso before doing so in the final onslaught against a backdrop of Old School Thrash rhythms. A beast that conquers all, this one is a standout that will cause the edges of any guitar player to widen in wonder. It may not seem possible listening to the earlier cuts but by the time “Deus Mortis” hits it feels like Scott Briggs has reached bowel clenching new lows with his vocal performance, gargling blood and threating to destroy his larynx in the process. Mike May gets the opportunity to shine on this one with a bass solo before the band continue their bloody and thunderous ways to bring this one to a barnstorming conclusion.

Craig Netto then gives Kevin Talley a run for his money with an outstanding restless and relentless kit performance on the menacing and sinister “Malicious Imprisonment“, the final of the offerings unholy trinity to be re-coded from the bands EP “Trichotomy of Death” to appear here. An almost schizophrenic solo matches the pulsating energy of this one as the band leave no stone unturned in their purist of Death Metal perfection. An army of darkness arises from their graves in the seemingly Sam Raimi inspired “Hordes of Hell“, Briggs story telling abilities put to the test in the process. Naturally he passes in colours of pure red, the bludgeoning Death Thrash accompaniment suitably fitting before “Traverse the Swarm” brings the curtain down with a cut that wouldn’t have been of place anywhere else on the album. Once again flirting with Melodic Death Metal riffs this one has roots in the famed Gothenburg sound and raises the hairs on the back of the neck in the process. If you took away the caustic vocals and called this one an early In Flames demo then no-one would argue, which is a testament to the quality Sinistrum are able to produce when they put their collective minds to it. As a record it has that nostalgic warmth which makes its immediately accessible and yet has enough of a life of its own to be interesting and a damn good time [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Infernal Dawn
2. Abomination Rising
3. Godforsaken and Bleeding
4. Legacy in Barbarity
5. Death Omen
6. Morbid Reality
7. Deus Mortis
8. Malicious Imprisonment
9. Hordes of Hell
10. Traverse the Swarm

“Infernal Dawn” by Sinistrum is out 2nd February 2024 via Morbid And Miserable Records / Adirondack Black Mass with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.