Merrin - Sin (song review) |self-released, single, 2016| 
Merrin entered 2017 with a new line-up as well as a bit of a changed sound, yet they've kept all former innuendos within both music and lyrics. The melody of their brand new track 'Sin' sounds very radio-friendly - as much as that of the band's previous song, 'Mr. Dominant' (which was later supported by a steamy, high quality music video single - find it on YouTube).
'Sin' opens with a blues'n'rock guitar riff (by Karl Wootton) and a gently jingled tambourine. They are then followed by the bold, cheeky, and instantly memorable voice of Charlie Phillips. Having a golden asset like this means it will always allow the singer to contribute to a variety of genres with success. When drums (by Richard Maxwell Jr) and bass (by Logan Wood, the new member) join next, they bring up a steady line of dynamics, and therefore leave no doubts that the track is an insta-hit. Guitars are reinforced by the other new member, Angelo Pantelakis (on lead guitar).
When it comes to arrangements, it seems they were written with a classical rock'n'blues structure in mind. Verses and choruses are easy enough to remember from the first listening for a proper sing-along with the vocalist. This obviously makes 'Sin' accessible for the majority of listeners around the world and definitely makes it fun during live performances. The song's composition is also not too complicated, with said arrangements distributed throughout evenly and an occasional guitar twist to shake the relaxed rhythm up a bit. All musicians here perform their parts dynamically. Again, Charlie's dominating alto entangles with all instrumental tracks, vibrating nicely within, and thus boosting every sound.
The mood and energy here are confident, direct, open, and positive. The down to earth lyrics talk of an episode in a shady bar: a woman drinks tequila, meets a man, then they both follow an increasing desire to know each other better and deeper. Yet it seems this event leaves her feeling guilty when she sobers up: “See this half empty bottle, holds bad memories / Head face down in the dirt / Cos I’m addicted to the misery / Like a fallen angel”.
'Sin' clocks in at 3 minutes and its length along with the catchy vibe make it a great fit for lots of music opportunities in need of a strong, melodic accent. The song is currently only released and available to buy on tour for Merrin's fans, however it'll be globally available with a complete music video around June 2017. Merrin plans on playing a few performances in New Zealand (where the band originates from) this year. Make sure to check out their official website & Facebook page for the schedule.
(Reviewer: Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Industrial Rock & Metal Encyclopedia, February 15th, 2017. Proofreading: Mike 'Vesper' Dziewoński)
Read also: Merrin 'Mr. Dominant' song review.
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