• Jason_Daniel_Baker
• Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:51pm

By Jason Daniel Baker

Vocalist Eric Kuthe, guitarist Ron Bechard, bassist Frank Sargeant and drummer Jeff Zurba form Sin Dealer, a Toronto based quartet locally considered one of Toronto's finest metal bands.

Drawing upon the vast wealth of long experience on the Toronto music scene the members of the combo unleash a sound that is raw yet paradoxically polished at the same time.

Comprised of former members of bands like Edwin, Sea of Green, Sons of Otis and Plasma Blast, the respective pedigrees are indeed impressive but would be immaterial if they couldn't play together as smoothly as they do.

Comparisons are too numerous to mention and ultimately pointless. This outfit is such a blending of different influences the term "Sludge Metal" is used and I do not think it is misapplied.

Sin Dealer are an absolutely awesome band in my opinion, and I really think their sound is topflight with great riffs and attention to melody. One sees plenty of heads bobbing to their rhythm at their shows. True metal fans fully appreciate the talent of this group.

A good metal album tends to either go for the jugular or a deliver a kick to the solar plexus. Dying to Live, the band's 2007 release does both and does it in spades. In the subgenre of melodic death metal new ground has been broken.

Included on the CD is a cover of Walk All Over You by AC/DC which is a staple of Sin Dealer's live show.

Kuthe's rough-edged vocals are particularly appealing when blended with the guitar distortion of Got Into You.

But my favorite track is Devil's War, which, while hardcore and powerful features lyrics that mean something to listeners and I can relate to them.

http://www.myspace.com/sindealer