Even a saint has his bad days, and temptation taunts the greatest heroes. The struggle against our baser impulses has been a motivating theme in rock music since its very beginning, and it remains as relevant as ever. Christian Cantello of Sin For Saints has done his share of hard thinking about sinning and salvation and the inexorable slide from good to bad behavior. “Sad Songs,” his latest, is an emotionally uncompromising look at his own journey to the dark side — and a candid report about what he found there. Take it as a warning, or a confession, or just a vivid portrayal of a lost and tortured soul on the brink.
The Atlanta songwriter, producer, and studio owner pairs this story with music that matches its intensity. He also covers a staggering amount of musical territory in three and a half minutes: Sin For Saints moves from a sweet whisper to a spare and electronically assisted groove to a thunderous post-screamo chorus. Cantello’simpassioned delivery evokes the rougher edge of the emo revival. The guitars are as deliciously dirty as any alternative scene classic. The drums pound and blast with the savagery of molten metal. Over the course of the song, Cantello demonstrates himself to be an astute student of musical history – and he shows he’s got the talent to apply what he’s learned to a sound all his own.
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