Album Review: Any Given Sin – War Within (Mascot Records)

Maryland quartet, Any Given Sin will release their debut album’ War Within’ via Mascot Records (Black Stone Cherry, Fozzy) worldwide on August 4th, 2023.

The size of this band already, is startling, but it’s easy to understand why they have amassed such an insane number of streams (around 20 million worldwide) when you hear what this debut album has to offer. It is accessible rock and metal music, heavy and groovy, with big choruses and plenty of passion thrown in throughout.

It’s music that everyone can enjoy, hard enough to get the head-banging but also liable to get the body shaking and feet moving too. The word is ‘anthemic’ and from the start, with the title track, it’s clear that is what the album is going to hold. A s**t-ton of anthems. Although, as catchy as the riffs are, it’s the more aggressive vocals that really stand out here.

A bit more melodic, but with plenty of robust heaviness too, Calm Before the Storm is a vigorous effort with a massive chorus. Whereas Another Life really pushes the bar in regards to accessibility as it is daringly ‘poppy.’ Although don’t misunderstand that, as regardless, Any Given Sin still have plenty of bite.

The heart and soul of this band really shines in Cold Bones, as the band dig deep for something that oozes emotion. Before the passionate heaviness is brought back with aplomb on Follow You, and Insidious gets a little more imaginative with its wicked sounding melodies. Here we see that Any Given Sin can experiment and change up their sound. Even if the most important thing of all, being anthemic, is still very much at the forefront.

There are no complaints though, especially when the crashing groove and moody melody of Ball and Chain is next. Then along comes a bit of an epic in the form of The Way I Say Goodbye, the guitars sound immense here, but again, those vocals are just so captivating. Following that, it’s the brash hit that is House on Fire, Any Given Sin going for speed and noise here. Before Dynamite and Still Sinking wrap things up in different, but memorable ways.

It’s not often you get an album filled with this many ‘playable’ tracks but that’s Any Given Sin for you. Eleven tracks, eleven anthems, and eleven reasons to love this band.

Any Given Sin – War Within Track Listing:

1. War Within
2. Calm Before the Storm
3. Another Life
4. Cold Bones
5. Follow You
6. Insidious
7. Ball and Chain
8. The Way I Say Goodbye
9. House on Fire
10. Dynamite
11. Still Sinking

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