Even though the Glam Metal genre was considered to be dead it was only a matter of time until it made a resurgence. Instead of the sunset strip however it was to be in the small towns of rural Sweden and Norway that bands such as Hellacopters, Backyard Babies and Hardcore Superstar would stage a comeback, its new found popularity due to the aforementioned bands going back to the roots of their sound by combining hardrock, a slight punk vibe and a dose of Metal that once made bands such as Motley Crüe so successful in the first place. As the music was again gaining strength so too was it evolving, some bands introducing goth and industrial elements to shake things up and get the masses going, one such band being SISTER from Stockholm, who incorporated said elements into their Sleaze Rock giving it a darker more gothic tinge. Although their two previous efforts had a strong Metal element, this their third album "Stand Up, Forward March" goes one step further by expanding the bands melodic sensibilities and managing to better integrate them into the overall sound of the band.

"Destination Dust" the 1^st song on the album is a good opener to the album in that it showcases all that this band has to offer, a forward marching beat, melodic and slightly sleazy guitar riffs and melodic slightly distorted vocals, it is an okay song but also pretty unspectacular, second song "Carved In Stone" is a step up and a more memorable song overall calling to mind Motley Crüe around their Theatre of Pain period, perhaps more groovy than the previous track, the use of cowbells on the drums giving it that dirty sunset strip feel. Third and fourth songs "Last in Line" and "Trail of destruction" is where the album really kicks off, both songs led by a melodic, infectious groove structure on the guitars and fist raising anthemic choruses that would not be amiss in the big stadiums of the world, I suspect that even the most miserable Black Metal fan would not be able to get the smile of his face when hearing these two songs. "Carry On" is song number five and is one that starts of slower, semi acoustically before picking up and turning into another anthem worthy of being sung aloud, one of those classic sleaze hard rock songs that are at once melodic but still have a somewhat melancholic feel in the chorus with lyrics that encourage you to not give up and to just keep going and embrace your destiny.

Sixth song "Unbeliever" was the first single off the album and I can see why it was chosen as this song is so fucking 80s L.A, its not even funny, this is the type of music that gave me goosepumps as a youngster, anthemic, cool groove, a chorus that demands to be screamed along to at the top of your lungs among a large crowd of people, the guitar work on this song is stellar, dirty but groovy, upbeat and full of energy. "Let it Bleed" on the other hand, man, what can I say, absolutely fucking pure awesomeness, like the previous songs, this track has a ton of melody but at the same time is completely different than any other song on the disc, calling to mind some of their earlier albums this song sounds like a mix between the now discontinued band Sentenced, Type O Negative and Maryln Manson, this song is Metal, its Goth, its melodic death Metal, its anthemic, it is dark and the use of church bell sounds integrated into the structure of the song sends shivers down the listeners spine. Whereas the previous songs were traditional City of Angels melodic and sleazy Hollywood hardrock/metal songs this song does not feel out of place on the album but is also not really like the others, standout song and overall Highlight on Stand up, forward march. Damn - Mind well and Truly Blown!! The rest of the album is perhaps not as good as the last song described but the quality of the songwriting is still as strong as elsewhere on the album. Fans of some of the above mentioned bands will get a kick out of Sister as they are slightly heavier than those bands but still in keeping with the overall glam metal sound. Fans of poppier Industrial, goth metal type sounds should also give this album a try, I suspect that they will not be disappointed. Right, I am off to light some candles, close the curtains, dim the lights and get a bottle of red wine and listen to Let It Bleed on repeat listen!!! Skäl!!!!