Archive for Sonic Syndicate

Pieni’s highlights of 2016

Posted in Editorial/Opinionated, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 31st December 2016 by Pieni

This year it was really REALLY tough to choose just 5 shows (Sam Alone, The Mission and Heavenwood should also be there somewhere):
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  1. Hills Have Eyes at Canecas Bar (Paços de Ferreira)
  2. Sonic Syndicate at Göta Källare (Stockholm)
  3. Moonspell at Pavilhão Multiusos (Guimarães)
  4. More Than A Thousand at Time Out Market (Lisboa)
  5. Testament at Coliseu (Porto)

The albums were easier:
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  1. “Stand Up, Forward, March!” by Sister
  2. “Confessions” by Sonic Syndicate
  3. “Atoma” by Dark Tranquillity
  4. “When Patsy Cline Was Crazy…” by Ricky Warwick
  5. “Brotherhood Of The Snake” by Testament

My video top-5 is “lighter” than last year’s: two emotional, one a kind of tribute, and two funny as hell:

  1. “The Beat” by Satan Takes A Holiday
  2. “Make It Right” by Hills Have Eyes
  3. “I Apologize” by Five Finger Death Punch
  4. “The Great Disillusion” by Betraying The Martyrs
  5. “Call Me” by Pain

Anticipations/expectations for 2017:
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  1. Infraktor – a “gourmet thrash metal” all-star project who I’m proud of being close to, hence keeping tabs on. Let’s see how others will receive them.
  2. Hills Have Eyes – saw some new pictures of the boys in the studio. Needless to say I’m thrilled.
  3. Equaleft – yep, something’s still brewing…
  4. Five Finger Death Punch – “Got Your Six” isn’t my favorite 5FDP album but it’s still good enough. Let’s see if what they’re up to now pleases me more.
  5. Guns N’ Roses – this is a live expectation. I’m having totally mixed feelings about this reunion. Not even sure if I’ll go to the Portugal show, so I’m also expectant on what my final decision will be…

Happy New Year peeps!

Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Sonic Syndicate: new video and official new line-up

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , , on 8th August 2015 by Pieni

Yesterday, Sonic Syndicate launched a new video for “Diabolical Work Of Art”, a song that, and quoting the band:

“People pretend to be something they’re not. That’s what makes the world go ’round. I’m willing to bet every single person that reads this has had a person come into their lives who was either drop-dead beautiful, someone they looked up to, or someone that promised the world. Only to be revealed as an ugly deceiving cunt.
The lyrics tackle this head-on. I know who I’m talking about, but to you it could be a relationship, a job, a best friend or whatever. The point being, I would rather people just wore their real skin rather than hiding behind a mask.
However, with the video we wanted to show this in an abstract way. I’ve seen too many videos with cheesy effects and violence. We wanted to show pristine, sheer beauty. How immaculate on the outside doesn’t mean pure on the inside. How society and people, however well hidden, have a darkness inside that sooner or later finds its way out.”

photo sosyz05_zpsecnwsvan.jpgIt also served to introduce Michel “Miche” Bäzén (bass player at Degradead) as a permanent member of the band. Miche has been on tour with Sonic Syndicate for over a year now, replacing founding member Karin Axelsson, so most fans already saw him as a SoSy member and this doesn’t come as a big surprise (hence the “official” on the title of this article). Karin explains and asks of the fans the following:

“Dear friends,

As most of you know by now I haven’t been touring with my boys in SONIC for a while. SONIC SYNDICATE has been my family and my life for many years and I’ve met so many great people and experienced things I never thought I would.
I’ve had the time of my life, so many of my dreams have come true in so many ways but sometimes you have to make hard choices in life and it’s time for me to move on because I am in a place where I need to focus on my family and private life, I hope you understand my decision.
I would like to thank all you guys who came out to our shows, for your endless love and support, it has meant so much to me and the guys that we could never express in words how we feel.
photo 0812_zpsnesmizc4.jpgBefore I officially go and start my new life I’d like to ask you one more thing. Please take care of the boys, my brothers, because I love them with all of my heart and although we’ll keep contact and see each other from time to time I will truly miss them and the music we’ve made together.
So, with everything above said and done, I would like to officially introduce Michel to the SONIC SYNDICATE family. What I ask from you guys is to please open your hearts for this great guy who’s an awesome bass player and give him a warm welcome.

With all my love”
– Karin”

Here’s the first promotional photo of the new line-up, taken by Daniel Djuric:
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www.facebook.com/SonicSyndicateBand

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Sonic Syndicate w/ Any Given Day – Düsseldorf, Germany

Posted in Gig, Live with tags , , , , , , on 22nd July 2014 by Pieni

Any Given Day + Sonic Syndicate
Zakk, Düsseldorf
18th July 2014

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The first leg of The Diabolical Tour of Art isn’t really to promote Sonic Syndicate’s new album, as they’ve only played the two singles recently released (“Before You Finally Break” and “Black Hole Halo”). That promotion will happen in the fall; now they’re just celebrating their return to the stages, in the country they feel most welcome. Fine by me – as much as I want to hear the new songs live, a SoSy show is always a SoSy show, meaning it’s always worth it.

Gelsenkirchen act Any Given Day took care of the first 45 minutes of the night. Even though I hadn’t had the time to check them out properly – in fact, I just saw the video for “Home Is Where The Heart Is” – I’ve heard about them quite a lot from friends and it was kind of a shock to learn that their debut album is yet to be released! The date is set for the 5th of September, its title “My Longest Way Home”, and I’ll make sure I won’t miss that, as their gig was quite intense and they deserve more of my attention from now on. The stage wasn’t exactly big, and John Bengtsson’s drumkit was already set in the middle – Ralph Altmann playing on his own – and still the boys in Any Given Day were restless. Guitarists Dennis Ter Schmitten and Andy Posdziech escaped once or twice to the top of the amps, so I guess that if I have the chance someday of seeing them in a wider stage, the visual effect of their adrenaline discharge will have a bigger impact. But as far as the music itself goes, and how much they give themselves to it, that’s a thumbs-up all the way to the sky. And please don’t let the several live videos of “Diamonds” on YouTube make you believe that’s their best effort – they make a wonderful version of it, I had the chance to confirm that, but there’s a lot more to Any Given Day than a Rihanna metal cover. (5 / 5)

www.facebook.com/AnyxGivenxDay

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Just because they weren’t promoting the new album fully yet, as aforementioned, it doesn’t mean that Sonic Syndicate didn’t come up with something fresh. Kicking off with “Hellgate: Worcester”? Cooling down with “My Escape”? I think I froze for a few seconds when Nathan Biggs announced the latter. This was actually the song that made me surrender to them, six years ago, and as far as I know, it had only been played once, in some kind of special show in Stockholm back then. Don’t know if they’re playing it in all shows of The Diabolical Tour of Art now, but whatever the case, it was a delightful surprise.
A not so great surprise was learning that Karin Axelsson, referred to by Nathan as “our beautiful bass player”, had to step out of the tour due a strain in her wrist (krya på dig, söta Karin). But SoSy “never cancel tours” and so they found in Miche from their friends Degradead a top-class replacement.
Staying in the front row has the downside of not getting the best sound, but since I heard all vocals in Any Given Day, I guess someone screwed up something with SoSy’s sound – I could barely hear Robin Sjunnesson’s voice. Of course that had no absolute impact on the attitude of the band or response of the crowd, but this was my first time seeing them as a 4-piece and I wanted to know for sure if Robin was up to his new role as backup singer. So I focused just on his voice for a couple of songs – years of practice searching for the bass sound that so many bands seem to dismiss allows me to manage that – and yes, I’m happy to say that the current line-up excels.
Besides the choruses in all songs, key-verses like “don’t close your eyes” in “Flashback” or “… out of control” in “Denied” echoed like thunders inside Zakk. Too bad that this is just a metaphor, as we could have used the rain to wash away the sticky sweat – the venue felt like a sauna! Still no one seemed to care that much about melting away, finding yet the strength for the vocal competition (left side vs. right side of the crowd) in “Burn This City” and the wall of death (no musicians involved this time) in the beginning of the last song “Jack Of Diamonds”.
When I interviewed Robin four years ago, one of the questions was where would he like to record a live album and he replied Germany, as they had the most hardcore fans there. They all still feel that way and Nathan said so a few times, thanking them for their eternal support, for “still being here” after all this time the band’s been away. Not that it’s been THAT long, but we got used to see them around, playing and recording non-stop, and then all the drama one of the former members tried to suck them into… under these circumstances, three years seem like a lifetime. But I was sure this break would make them stronger, and both the new album and this show proved me right. (5 / 5)

www.facebook.com/SonicSyndicateBand

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Text & photos by Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Sonic Syndicate – Sonic Syndicate

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on 3rd July 2014 by Pieni

 Sonic Syndicate
“Sonic Syndicate”
Modern metal
To be released on 7th July 2014
Via Nuclear Blast Records

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Being a die-hard fan of Sonic Syndicate, to say I was eager for this album is quite an understatement. But precisely due that “die-hardness”, I knew how this 4-year hiatus was necessary, after the new challenges the boys and girl had to face in their lives, both as musicians and human beings. Now if you ask “was the wait worth it?”, I’ll ask back “is that a trick question?!”.

Generally speaking, it’s heavier, brisker and more intense and daring than anything they’ve ever done. On detail: “Day Of The Dead” kicks off with a dark and ominous instrumental work that lasts 33 seconds before exploding into something massive – a pounding drum pattern, defiant guitar riffs that the bass line, as subtle as it is, still strengthens, the deep and angry vocals and the electronics popping up here and there, just for seasoning. The synths become more solid, although playing in the background, during the chorus, where there’s also more melody and the clean vocals kick in, aiming for (and scoring) catchiness.

In “Black Hole Halo”, on the other hand, the synths are very much alive, which doesn’t cut the heaviness down at all – not even in that break around minute 3:20, where for brief seconds you’ll feel like you’re in a rave.

“Long Road Home” is probably the most sharp-edged song here, followed by “It Takes Me”, in contrast to the ballad “Unbreakable”. Although “ballad” doesn’t quite cover it. Sure, it’s the most sweet-sounding track, but there are a few little outbursts of energy that don’t comply with your average definition of “ballad”.

Suiting its title, “My Revenge” is darkly menacing (even if Nathan Biggs sings that “this is not a threat”). Speaking of whom, I take the chance to highly praise his vocal skills, a wide range of pitches and styles that are finally revealed in full.

Still he called on Björn “Speed” Strid, from Soilwork, to help him singing in “Before You Finally Break” and the outcome is stunning, one voice completing the other. The song itself is already brilliant, that twist the chorus takes in its rhythm a true breath of fresh air within the modern metal/metalcore songwriting. Way to go, Mr. Robin Sjunnesson!

“Catching Fire” has a rock seduction to it and a quite classy guitar solo (yes, you read it well – a solo. It’s rare, but it does happen once in a while).

“See What I See” is straight-forward riot act with one of the most melodic choruses in the album. But “So Addicted” has one of the most enthralling, probably given the level of emotion the song pours out. And there’s something victorious about “The Flame That Changed The World”.

There’s also three bonus tracks that my promotional copy didn’t include, but given everything I’ve already told you about “Sonic Syndicate”, it’s safe to assume they meet the same quality standards of the rest of the track list.

For the talent I know they have, I was sure they wouldn’t let me down. But I can’t help smiling like a child on Christmas morning when I listen to this album and see that faith totally rewarded.

5 / 5

By Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Sonic Syndicate reveal first dates of The Diabolical Tour Of Art 2014

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on 26th May 2014 by Pieni

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As announced before (see here), Sonic Syndicate will be releasing their self-titled 5th album pretty soon. The first live dates have been announced, with a promise that more will follow.

Valkyrian Music will be present at the third gig, in Düsseldorf, and will bring you a full report.

SONIC SYNDICATE – Diabolical Tour of Art 2014:

11 July – AACHEN, Musik Bunker GER
10 – 12 July – ROCKHARZ OPEN AIR, Ballenstedt GER
18 July – DÜSSELDORF, Zakk GER
19 July – SUNSTORM FESTIVAL, Nordheim GER
7 – 10 Aug – GETAWAY ROCK FESTIVAL, Gävle SWE
8 – 10 Aug – ZAXID FESTIVAL, Lviv UKR
11 October – MÜNSTER, Sputnikhalle GER
12 October – KÖLN, Underground GER
14 October – ASCHAFFENBURG, Colos-Saal GER
15 October – NÜRNBERG. Hirsch GER
16 October – HERISAU, Pontem SUI
17 October – MÜNCHEN, Backstage GER
18 October – ADELSHEIM, Live Factory GER
20 October – WIEN, Viper Room AUT
21 October – PRAG, Noca Chmelnice CZE
22 October – BERLIN, So36 GER
23 October – STUTTGART, Universum GER
24 October – BOCHUM, Matrix GER
25 October – KIEL, Pumpe GER

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Sonic Syndicate reveal details on upcoming album

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on 25th April 2014 by Pieni

As previously reported (read here) Anglo-Swedish modern metal act SONIC SYNDICATE have been in the studio recording their 5th full-length album. Today the boys and girl unveiled its coverart and let us know that this new 11-track piece (14 in the limited edition) will be named after the band itself and will hit the stores on July 7th, once again via Nuclear Blast.

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Quoting Robin Sjunnesson (guitarist/main songwriter/founding member): » We decided to go with this one as a “Self-Titled” release. Mainly because as an album we have put everything we’ve got into it. All of our experience as musicians, the evolution of the music, the sound from all eras of the band, and also the road we have taken as people. This is us, this is Sonic Syndicate in all its beauty and destruction. It shows our strength, our love for melody, our scars, our energy. The cover art is a definite representation of that. In the background, a battle-torn city laid to waste, four figures emerging together with only each other to depend on in an environment so harsh, only those with a tough heart, body and soul can survive. The tone throughout this album is definitely darker, and as my Swedish family would say “With a red-line running in the middle” so we put this into the colour-scheme. We could not be more proud of this album, and we thank our fans for the support, it’s because of them that we’re here. This album is for you. «

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The tracklist is as follows:
01. Day Of The Dead
02. Black Hole Halo
03. Long Road Home
04. My Revenge
05. Before You Finally Break (feat. Speed/SOILWORK)
06. Catching Fire
07. Unbreakable
08. It Takes Me
09. See What I See
10. So Addicted
11. The Flame That Changed The World


LIMITED EDITION BONUS TRACKS:
12. Diabolical Work Of Art
13. What We Shared
14. Another Soldier Down



Regarding Björn “Speed” Strid participation, singer Nathan J. Biggs said: » I’m honored to call Speed a friend. I’ve been a big SOILWORK fan for years. Those guys were a massive hand in crafting that trademark Swedish sound so it made perfect sense to ask Speed when we knew we wanted to do a song with guest vocals. Performance wise I think we have similar styles and execution, but at the same time we both have our own thing going on so the voices compliment each other to great effect. My idea was also to have a real battle between our vocals. I hate it when you have these “featuring” songs and the guest just pops up for a chorus and then does backing vocals for a while in the verse or something. This is a real fight between us for the mic and I’m sure people are gonna appreciate that. «

Don’t forget to follow the band on their official social networks for more updates – they have recently posted a snippet of the photosession for this album, the soundtrack being a preview of one of the new (and really heavy) song.

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Sonic Syndicate in recording mode

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 31st January 2014 by Pieni

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As previously reported (read here and here), modern metal act Sonic Syndicate are back. The recordings for their 5th album have begun in Bohus Sound studios (Kungälv) with producer Roberto Laghi and the final outcome is expected to hit the stores this summer, under the Nuclear Blast label. They’re also planning on playing several festivals and tour in the fall, supporting this long awaited new album. We will keep you posted about all of this, but make sure to follow Sonic Syndicate on the official social networks in order to get more details:

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