Bitches Sin-The Rapture

Self-Release
2011

London's traditional heavy metal/NWOBHM act Bitches Sin were formed in 1980. While a early incarnation of the group featured the Toomey brothers on guitar, drummer Bill Knowles, vocalist Alan Cockburn and bassist Pezcon the band would be plagued by line-up changes through-out their career. In 1981 the band contributed to two separate compilations. The track "Down The Road" was added to the Neat "Leadweight" compilation tape but they would become more well known for their "Heavy Metal Heroes" compilation appearance where they had one of the greatest NWOBHM singles of all time in "Strangers On The Shore". By 1982 the group made their full-length debut with "Predator". Despite the hype and momentum created with the track "Strangers On The Shore" Bitches Sin's debut album bombed. Between the poor production job and lackluster songwriting critics and fans were left less than impressed. An EP arrived in 1983 called "No More Chances" before the band began work on a proper follow-up to "Predator". Even though 1986's "Invaders" was a better album by that point the group's core fans had moved on. After disappearing from the public eye for some years (during which some members formed the rock band Flashpoint) the band finally released a new album in 2008. In between their last album "Invaders" and the 2008 album "Uduvudu" the band would release three "Best Of" compilations. Also during this time the band hooked up with producer Chris Tsangarides who not only helped out behind the scenes but became an official member. While "Uduvudu" got mixed reviews the band soldiered on. Now in 2011 we finely have a new album in the self-released "The Rapture". Yet again the band has had a shake up as "The Rapture" features a new vocalist in Dave Mills. The shake-up seems to have done the group some good as other than "Thanks for the Memories" (in which Dave sounds as if his voice is harsh from straining) Mills is a more than capable replacement for the departed Anthony Tomkinson. "Don't Let Go" opens the album in thunderous fashion with a sound that takes the best parts of modern metal and tweaks it with heavy power metal. The choice of a cover was interesting with "Sounds of Silence". Honestly hearing it made me think of Metallica and their choice of covers. Bitches Sin does a interesting take on the Simon & Garfunkel classic and the more times I've listened to it the more it grows on me. "Save Me" and "Never Forget" are good metal tunes bringing Bitches Sin into the modern age. "The Rapture" is a pretty intense power metal cruncher and sums up what I like about this album. The band has managed to craft a real heavy metal album with pounding anthems highlighted by the lead guitar work of Ian Toomey. There really isn't a bad cut to be found here. "Love and Faith" is a number I really enjoyed the more I listened to it as well. Following with the track "You Want Paradise" is a good move as here is another truly fine heavy metal tune. "You Want Paradise" and the rest of the album's tracks are some enjoyable heavy/power/thrash metal. As a Bitches Sin album it is really good although honestly if you did not know who this was I think you'd be (pleasantly) surprised to find out it is a NWOBHM band. Sure there are some hallmarks of the movement thanks to Ian Toomey's guitar work but unless you really knew your history you wouldn't know this was the same band that created "Strangers On The Shore". It's good to see the band not only grow and mature but seemingly click as a band. Let's hope this line-up manages to hang on for longer than just one album because Bitches Sin are onto something finally. Welcome back guys.