Friday the 19th of July, ST. SINNER release their ‘Identity Crisis’ EP through Def Wolf Records. The EP is 8 tracks encompassing world-class production and maturing songwriting that showcases the breadth of the bands talents. The most recent single ‘Heroin (feat Heists)’ is a barrage of blistering riffs and throat tearing vocals – while the band take on traditional metalcore with ‘Devil Boy’, explore pop with the bouncy tongue in cheek ‘Villain’ and bring it home with the epic closer ‘Blood.’
The band have given us a special deep dive into the EP, check it out here!
IDENTITY CRISIS (INTRO)
Up until this point we really wanted to start our Lore somewhere. We didn’t want to push it
down people’s throats, but we wanted to execute the story behind our EP in a way that you
could delve into if you really wanted to. I’ve always been inspired by Horror and thriller
movies plus the soundtracks that accompany those. The intro track to the EP is an homage
to the sinister story underlying the record.
DEVIL BOY
This is technically the oldest song on the record. I had the Demo ready for it in 2020 but it
was originally going in a completely different direction. I held off on using it up until this point,
where I felt it could be fully realised. It deals with the idea that we kill off parts of ourselves
as we either grow (or decay) from the challenges (or traumas) of life.
Lyrically it came together in an organic way while we were recording it @ Defwolf studios.
The theme of deep water being a metaphor for human psyche and drowning in that was
something that felt right.
Sonically we wanted to go heavy, but we wanted to incorporate all the elements on the
identity crisis. The record is something of a mismatch (as the name suggests) that doesn’t
just pander to ONE sound. DEVILBOY is probably the track where that is most prevalent.
Metal-core, RnB, EDM, Dubstep and Rock elements all help it foreshadow what’s going on
sonically on the rest of the EP.
HEADCASE
The first single HEADCASE was always going to be the start point for IDENTITY CRISIS. As
the first track we completed in recording, it set the bar higher for us in terms of our sound
and our songwriting. It’s probably my favourite blend of Rock and Metal on the EP. It Deals
with the trauma surrounding self-deprecation, in a way it’s the first “test” initiated by the over-
arching villains in our story. It enabled us to push the boundaries and ourselves in our
imagery and to set up the world we wanted to create.
VILLAIN
VILLAIN is a weird one. We were originally torn as to where to place it in the running of the
EP.
It’s kind of like a fever dream within the EP’s sonics…it’s a rap song. Like a dark-alt hip hop
type beat.
This fits thematically and sonically with the idea of an IDENTITY CRISIS. VILLAIN deals with
spite and the almost Petty way that we can turn our Traumas outward – seeking unhealthy
coping mechanisms to deal with detachment. In the story it acts as a visual demonstration as
to how this “spite” can cause the “user” to fall into a haze.
DYSPHORIA
The Second Single from the Record was where we found our first success. It was the first
time we saw the Algorithm take hold of our music which we super grateful for!
DYSPHORIA deals with the trauma surrounding numbness and feeling “outside” of yourself
in those moments of great depression. Its Modern Metalcore sonics really show off Daniel
Antics’ level up in production and our level up in songwriting. Writing my verses happened
quickly and involving David (Belle Haven) happened as organically as though he was part of
the band!
LOST IT
Our third single LOST IT takes another direction sonically. All of the elements of a Metal-core
track but with the dynamics of Alt-Rock. The track explores the feeling of “Frenzy” when
dealing with imposter syndrome. The state of mind that you get into when you’re constantly
question yourself and your goals. It’s almost an Emo Homage to the My Chemical Romance
era of Alt-Rock. Our story uses LOST IT to explore a physical embodiment of what a
substance that causes this feeling would look like- and how it would affect society.
HEROIN
The heaviest track on the Record. Definitely a nod to the direction that I think we will be
taking going forward. We needed something that felt heavy and aggressive – to convey the
ideas that HEROIN does.
Addiction, self-sabotage, self-hatred and a reflection on how all three affect our actions,
HEROIN smashes the listener with a modern Metal Core edge and is reinforced by the voice
of Chris from HEISTS. He was awesome to work with and his verse perfectly captures the
vision we had for the track. Visually, it reinforced how our protagonist changes in the journey
of this EP, how the tests and extractions culminate and what the character is left with.
BLOOD
The last track on the record is also the saddest, or the largest. Sonically and lyrically,
BLOOD explores the enormity, fragility and difficulty of the topic: suicide.
It takes yet another direction and is a massive, almost orchestral moment to close out the
record.
The production reflects “pulling out all the stops” and was an opportunity for me as
songwriter to let it all go, let the brain off the leash for a moment.
The story explores how the villain characters would extract the feelings associated with
depression…and use them.
St. Sinner celebrate the new release this Saturday the 20th at the Def Wolf Records Launch Party in Newtown, Sydney.
Tickets
https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/clay-j-gladstone-def-wolf-records-launch-party/167978
Based in Canberra, Australia, ST.SINNER are a high octane emo metal-core band. The three piece formed in 2020 and take inspiration from acts like Bring Me The Horizon, Void of Vision and Grandson. With a sound that is ever evolving, their unique brand fuses heavy riffs and poignant lyrics with a high energy and charismatic live show that will make you want to bang your head.
Their 2023 release “HEADCASE” signaled a new beginning for the band. It premiered on Triple J Unearthed TOPS and received a nomination from Music ACT Release of the year.
