When you speak of melodic Metal, in order to refer to a band's style, thinks can get a little bit awkward sometimes. Just ask a 35-year-old fan and a teenager, go ahead with a metalhead from Germany and one living in the States, deal with one just focusing on the 'big brands' and then count a die-hard collector's opinion, and so on...Austria's DESERT SIN claim to be performing some melodic Metal stuff and - to avoid any misunderstanding - someone can get kinda suspicious to the hearing of such expressions. Thankfully, the band's name and the label behind this release already set the basis for something good to - possibly - come up.
Austria and Heavy Metal: a rare link, indeed. If someone counts down while you try to get a hold of 10 names being 'Metal, most chances are you'll have a tough time. This does not necessarily mean something negative in prior. That's - maybe - the reason why bands like DESERT SIN try to cry out their beliefs/identity hailing from such an 'obscure' land. And - to start up the review itself - they do it really well. First of all, the band's debut album - beautifully named The Edge OF Horizon - does stay away from what many refer to as 'candy Euro Power' Metal (you know which bands the bell tolls for, won't need names), being a notable piece of dynamic European metallum with good ideas for melodies and some rather good work in nearly all instruments.
A variety in tempos is visible; there are times that double-bass drums give that extra something to the music's command, providing the riff themes with the trademark 'horsepower' e.g. German Power Metal bands behold. Do not lock the impression that it's all about speed over here, since this is not the case. The album's songlist is epic, marching (not in a 'primitive' way), pounding and traveling as individually requested by each tune. Thus, fans looking for a straightforward Metal album shall not be impressed that easily. The Edge OF Horizon is more suitable for metalheads willing to spend company with music smelling warriors, landscapes, myths and colorful images.
Two things need some special notice: the voice of Sandro Holzer can act as neutral (or a drawback) the first time you'll listen to this piece of Metal music. Still, I think that gradually his singing style shall step on you, since he does have that Central European harsh accent that sounds 'Metal' itself, he's clear in his high-pitched singing and he successfully - in my opinion, always - ties with the music's atmosphere (the well-worked keyboards help on). He can sound both 80s and 90s no matter the requirements, while in mild parts he can be calm/narrative without omitting from the result's dynamics.
Second thing - since DESERT SIN plays with melodies - is that if this is the 'ace' of the band then there's some more work needed to be done in this sector. As pre-said, the ideas for the melodies used are good enough, still I have the impression there are many excerpts in the album where the listener may feel there should be some more boost present, while - do not blame the band for this, of course - enough pieces can remind you of that something used somewhere from another band in the past. This sub-genre is overloaded, that's old news. Ah, not to forget: the leads themes sometimes offer something less than a perfect touch. Some more work needed in this field, too?
DESERT SIN and The Edge OF Horizon may not achieve all things desired, in a typhoon of CDs and not much money on the Metal fan's wallet. That would be a pity; the band is reliable and has worked hard for all that's inside the album. A mix of Teutonic Metal  music, enough fresh 'epic' elements, a clear vision not to mess with anything regarded as 'mainstream' nowadays...I'd believe anyone telling me this specific CD was released in the mid-to-late 90s in Europe, a time that countless interesting pieces of Metal came out but got minimum recognition due to - more or less - known factors. Let's hope an outfit like DESERT SIN will do better these days.