Sinistro - Sangue Cássia

Sinistro - Sangue Cássia

Season of Mist (FRA)  /  2018 / Doom metal

In a genre full of belters, shouters, growlers, crooners, and screamers, it feels odd to hear someone who can legitimately sing. Patricia Andrade's voice makes Portugal's Sinistro sound instantly unique. If you like her idiosyncratic brand of ethereal, haunting vocals, you'll probably love Sangue Cássia. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

There are other bands who work in a similar vein (doom metal by way of European art film soundtrack), but I honestly haven't heard vocals like Andrade's in metal. The band's website compares their sound to fado, a traditional Portuguese song style typified by a sense of saudade, which (very) loosely translates as melancholy or nostalgia. Be that as it may, I don't know how much that'd help you, dear reader, decide whether or not to give this album a spin, which is the real point I see in making comparisons during a review. Perhaps you're more well rounded a listener, or have a deep appreciation for the guitarra portuguesa, or are from Lisbon. Andrade's delivery reminds your uninformed reviewer most of a more-elegant Julie Christmas, which does both of them a disservice. Sometimes, the best compliment you can give someone is that they sound like themselves.

8/10