Title: Nightmare
Artist: Saints of Ruin (USA)
Genre: Gothic-Rock / Bat-Cave
Release: 14th May 2010
Label: Echozone
Album Review
SAINTS OF RUIN is a Gothic Rock band that has played a few of concerts and festivals in recent months in the U.S. Now they are publishing their first full-length-album ‘Nightmare’ and it will be a musical cross-section of the band combining powerful melodic vocals and mysterious lyrics with elements of metal guitars and electronic undercurrents
The first track, ‘Ashes’, starts with beautiful melodies and sensual vocals. Ruby Ruin comes in with her seductive voice. I like the guitar-solo of Tommy Dark and the way he brings in the chorus guitar at the end of each verse. The verses have minimal instrumentation leaving a clean palate for Ruin to do her thing. The next song ‘Dying Time’ is a powerful song, lyrically especially telling the story of a serial killer which is told through the eyes of the murderer himself. The subsequent piece is a unique interpretation of the CONCRETE BLONDE classic ‘Bloodletting’ which the band knew how to interpret its own way. And they managed it really well. A solo on the keys by John Paul Young is intricate and fitting to the song.
The title track ‘Nightmare’ is a dark ballad with beautiful calm voice of the singer Ruby Ruin. It would have been easy for the band to turn this into a typical power ballad with a big finish. ‘End of Days’ is a very powerful anti-war song and it takes a moment to carry the slow pace of the previous song and build it into more. ‘Be My King’ starts with some keys that almost sound like a dance or trance rhythm. It has a fast tempo and the chorus is very beautiful and melodic. An anti-hunting / pro animal rights song is ‘A Murder of Crows’. It turns out to be a chance for Ruin to spread her wings on the lyrical side. She has many vocal runs throughout the song, giving her a chance to show off this side of her as a musician.
The ‘Halloween Song’ is a pretty thrilling piece; especially the vocals are here very pleasant to listen to. It’s a true story of being a Goth kid in New York City and all the fun and adventure that go with it. ‘Never Go Away’ for me is one of the strongest songs on the album and at the same time a sad song because it's about teen suicide. The last song ‘The Darkening’ begins with hard guitar riffs, then also great join and drum beats. A successful hit, which prepared for the long player is a grand launch.
SAINTS OF RUIN have created a great emotional work with many thrilling and moving texts that stimulate thinking. The musicians are all solid: each member plays their role perfectly and they all seem to be on the same page. There are no weak spots and the album loses no speed along the way.
Tracklist
01. Ashes
02. Dying Time
03. Bloodletting
04. Nightmare
05. End of Days
06. Be My King
07. A Murder of Crows
08. Halloween Song
09. Never Go Away
10. Dark Night
11. The Darkening
Line-Up
Ruby Ruin - Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Tommy Dark - Guitars
Michael Broadus - Drums
Kat Downs - Keyboard / Synthesizer, Backing Vocals
Website
http://www.myspace.com/saintsofruin / http://www.saintsofruin.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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