"Seven deadly sins, seven way to win...". I remember those enchanting words right after I got myself the "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" album of IRON MAIDEN. From those same lines the following paths were something that I, and I doubt that others, would never forget. Not that this is has more or less to do with the release of this young band from Canada named SEVENTH SIN, but when I came across their name I began chanting that mentioned line. However, when the first track, "The Giant", of SEVENTH SIN's EP, "Stranger Among Gods", it was a different setting and story entirely, needless to say my poles apart reaction.

Although I must say that when "The Giant" began rumbling my ears, it was pretty weird, and even a bit funny, to listen to a main riff that almost identical to IRON MAIDEN's "Two Minutes To Midnight", GRAVE DIGGER's "Heavy Metal Breakdown" and maybe even something of SAXON's older material but I can't actually point out the song right now. So maybe my mentioning of IRON MAIDEN in the intro wasn't so irrelevant after all hah?

On the other hand, in general, this band impressed me with their musical orientation and their cool mix of Heavy Metal. It is something between the European style and the American 80s straightforwardness with little affiliations of Hard Rock. Like the American form that I noted, most of the material led to the mid to late 80s of traditional Metal. Alongside a solid production that marked the timeline of the band's liking, SEVENTH SIN provided nice main riffs with several of notable melodies al'a IRON MAIDEN, yet not as regularly as in the past. When it came to the solos, there were some great performances that once again also reminded of IRON MAIDEN circa that will never seem to fall. The addition of the keyboards to their type of material that on plenty occasions sounded rough and attacking made me bit puzzled at first hand, but I got used to the idea after a few additional listens as its role maintained an essential fragment of the melodic nature of the band. It actually quite suited them while adding a level of mystery to the songs, even to a straightforward six pounder as "The Giant". Nonetheless, that one who made this release tick was the lead vocalist, Aarom Hemmersbach, that presented dominance, an amazing diverse voice that at first led to me believe that I was about to listen to a CHILDREN OF BODOM type of music with one of his harsher dimensions.

"Stranger Among Gods" left some nice markers of old school Metal that shared both melodies, virtually strengthened by keyboards and less by guitars, inspiring themes and amazing frontline vocals. Even though not everything hit me to the verge of a mind bluster, I was satisfied with what I was listening. "The Giant" and "The Raven" are practically first class hits of 80s honest Metal with a few additions. It would be interesting to listen to their debut once it's out.