Ah, what would we ever do without that sweet proggy symphonic metal that we now get from so, so, so many bands. A lot of acts have jumped on the symphonic metal train in the last decade, and many doing so without paving their own course and mostly following in the direct footsteps of their grander predecessors. Out of Italy, SINHERESY has mostly been no different. They started out with two solid but somehwta lackluster and un-impressive debut albums that did check all the boxes, but failed to stand out on their own two legs. Which makes sense, after all SINHERESY did start out as a NIGHTWISH cover band.

Their 3rd full length album "Out Of Connection" seeks to elevate them to a new level and thrust forward into the greater symphonic metal light. And in some respects it does that. It has a few interesting, more powerful tracks that bring a smattering of cool melodic ideas, brilliant guitar work, melodeath vibes at times, and chunky guitar with even some djenty moments. But there are also some more boring more melodic, balladesque, and anthemic tracks that fall victim to predictable melodies and trite choruses. It's a little bit of a choppy album in that sense. It's overall successful, but it also kills some of its own momentum.

My biggest gripe is their inexplicable usage of male vocalist Stefano Sain, particularly in lead single, music video, and title track "Out Of Connection". First of all, naming the album after this song and making it the lead single was kind of a bummer. It's not one of the strongest songs, flat out. It's not terrible, it just pales in comparison to a number of much stronger numbers. And how they use Stefano is so odd. He doesn't sing AT ALL until close to the end of the song when he comes in for a tiny bit. There were so many ways he could have been infused into the melody and used instead of just awkwardly standing around and dancing, but he wasn't. It was bizarre to watch, but fortunately there are plenty of other tracks that put him to greater use. And it's a good thing, he's got an incredible voice, both clean and the more harsh vocals he does. CECILIA is also incredible, the vocals are very strong throughout, and putting the two of them together creates the magic they are looking for. Any complaints with songwriting aside, you can't knock the performances throughout this album, from a musicianship standpoint this thing is airtight. Especially with the guitars, on the proggier more interesting tracks like "Zero One", "Blood Like Water", and "The Circle". They did some really fantastic work there that I absolutely loved. The production is phenomenal here as well.

Those three are far and away my favorite on the album and pack a greater punch and energy bringing some of the best guitar work and even melodeath vibes, which was so cool. Also "Facts, Words, Sand, Stone" which was maybe the heaviest song. "Zero One" was the best song on the album with my favorite guitars, and even got a little djenty. That track at #3 saves the album from a more lackluster start following "Out Of Connection" which is a little bit of a snoozer. The middle of the album is sandwiched with more slowed down, balladesque, and anthemic tracks like "Absolution", "Break The Surface", and "Shallow" which loses a little momentum with the more generic verses and riffs and generic choruses. Ending the album with "Blood Like Water" and "The Circle" was a great way to go, and finishes on a strong note.

Overall, it's a decided step forward for the band, and hear's them come into more of their own sound and further chiseling off the "cover band" stigma. It's not an album that will be measure alongside the symphonic metal greats, but it's worth listening to if you're into the style, particularly for some of the heavier, proggier, and more melodeath guitar type tracks. "Zero One" is the best takeaway for sure. I'm sure this will be enough to sustain SINHERESY's steady career forward, so it should be interesting to see where they go next to follow up "Out Of Connection".