PILOTS OF A NEW SKY

German band SINEW was formed in 2004, releasing their debut album four years after this. Another four years would go by before they were ready with their sophomore production, but in 2012 "Pilots of a New Sky" was launched, courtesy of German label Quality Steel Records.

Personally I came across this band by mere chance, and I'll readily admit that I was quite taken by the material I heard. Strong melodies, some truly excellent instrumentalists elevating the songs by their individual skills, and while accessible and striking their compositions contains a fair amount of subtle details to enjoy too.

Many of their songs follows a fairly similar setup. We're given a brief introduction, usually with a later recurring brief theme, that transports us directly to the verse part of the composition. Usually mellow or otherwise light in tone and spirit, most often with a gentle guitar motif of some kind or other supported by piano or a fairly smooth keyboard texture. Occasionally with a fluttering, textured post rock style guitar or flavored with brief melodic guitar solo details. When the chorus section hits us it does so fairly literally. Dramatic and at times really intense guitar driven constructions supplements the vocals here. Most often we're treated to an intermission of sorts following the second run of this constellation, an instrumental sequence that may or may not also include a standalone passage sporting vocals, prior to drifting back to a concluding and often elongated chorus. While this leads to a fair few songs with a similar structure, the arrangements, atmospheres and sheer intensity tend to have a great deal of variation from one song to the next, to the point that structural similarities isn't actually a negative remark but merely an observation. There are quite a few deviations from this norm too I might add, with the multiple themed, epic length composition The Descend to the Heart of Mount Sadhana the one that clearly deviates most.

Otherwise I'll note that Sinew has an excellent bassist, versatile guitarists, a keyboardist who does know the meaning of subservient and supplemental and how to utilize such an approach to very good effect. Vocalist Sascha J. has an excellent, melodic voice that reminds me of Sylvan's Marco Glühmann, and at last I'm truly impressed with drummer Sascha C., just as good with the careful touch as with thundering, explosive and enticing drum cascades. These fine musicians have made themselves a strong album through and through, sheer quality from start to finish. Personally I'd say that title track Pilots of a New Sky is the strongest one, or at least those among the most impressive creations here that should have the strongest overall appeal. Of the many other fine tracks at hand, Echoes is another piece that warrants a special mention as an example in how to make a ballad oriented composition come alive through utilizing some subtle and one distinct prominent darker-tinged instrument feature to add a tension inducing undercurrent.

Accessible, melodic progressive rock is the calling card of this German band. Able to throw a punch and a growl when needed, but most of all staying put within a context and framework defined by melody, powerful moods and contrasting intensity. Yet with an eye and an ear for the use of subtler details to enrich their material. As far as a likely key audience goes, I'd be fairly surprised if I came across any fans of later day Sylvan that wouldn't adore what this band is doing. Those with a general interest in elegant and sophisticated yet accessible melodic rock and hard rock are also well advised to give this disc a spin.