Sister-"Sick" Single

Metal Blade Records
2013

Released back in October of 2013, and available as a digital download off of iTunes and well as in vinyl format ala a limited-edition (500 copies), 7" in various colors, this is the first single to be released from Sister's upcoming new album. For those of you not in the know Sister, who hail from Stockholm, Sweden, are a punk n' metal outfit who made their debut on Metal Blade Records with 2011's "Hated". A review of that album, which was written-up by site founder Metal Mark, can be found below. Despite looking like the (ghastly and ghoulish) bastard offspring of  fellow Swedes Crashdïet and Marduk, which you can check out for yourself at the video link, the band sounds (almost) more like Marilyn Manson if, and only if, old Marilyn (Brian Hugh Warner) himself had been feed a steady diet of the New York Dolls and (early) eighties punk rock! Backed up with a cover of Rocky Erickon's (The 13th Floor Elevators) "Two Headed Dog" this single might not be the most "current" offering from the group's upcoming album (that honor would seem to fall on the somewhat better "Naked" which is also available for download on on iTunes), but it does show the direction that Sister has decided to go as we head into 2014. While I have not heard their last album for myself (in it's entirety at least) the reviews that I read seemed positive and Metal Mark's judgement is always valued. As for this single though (and from listening to a sample of "Naked") I'm not entirely sold on Sister being anywhere near the top of Swedish exports worth investing in. Or at least right now with their current sound and choice of musical direction as their last album, 2011's "Hated", sounds a lot more promising to me (Metal Mark having described it as a combination of The Murderdolls/Wednesday 13, Crashdïet and Faster Pussycat). That said, I'll have to see if I can secure a copy of the band's upcoming new album ("Disguised Vultures") for myself before I make any rash judgement calls on whether or not the latest version of Sister is worth pursuing.

Video of "Sick"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW88HlBOxJo

Review of "Hated"
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2011/05/sister-hated.html 

Sister-Hated

Metal Blade
2011

The first time I heard Sweden's Sister was listening to some very rough versions of some tracks they had on their myspace back around 2007 I think. It was raw, but good. I know they knocked out some demos around that time too. By late 2009 their image had changed as they went from looking like Motley Crue circa 1983 to wearing all black leather and lots of black hair coloring on their mop tops. Also the sound had a punk rock edge to it and quite a bit more energy. Then last year they were signed to Metal Blade and now we get their debut on that label. "Hated" definitely picks up on the same style demonstrated on "Deadboys making noise". In fact it overlaps as a few tracks from the 2009 album show up on the new release as well. Imagine if the Murderdolls/Wednesday 13, Crashdiet and Faster Pussycat were swirled up together and you would understand the starting point for the Sister's sound. Sister sure aren't your fluffy, ballad-loving kind of glam band. Tracks like "Bodyblow", "Spit on me" and "Bullshit and backstabbing" are kick to the gut kind of tracks. It's also obvious that these guys are growing as songwriters because the hooks are sharp and almost every song flows with ease. I almost can't believe that this is the same band I heard over three years ago. Sweden has been a hot bed for glam bands over the last 5-6 years, but many have not made a huge impact on these shores. Here's hoping Metal Blade knows what they have in Sister and that they promote them accordingly. Hard rock fans need to check this one out for sure.

2008 Interview
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/01/sister-interview.html

Deadboys making noise review 2009
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2009/10/sister-deadboys-making-noise.html

Sister-Deadboys making noise

Self-produced
2009



The last time I heard Sister was probably almost two years ago when I checked out some of the songs on their Myspace page. I remember them sounding and looking somewhat like early Motley Crue. Flash forward to earlier this year and the band has changed their look and an EP was in the works. There were some delays in the release, but I opened my mail box the other day and there it was. I raced home and slapped it into the stereo and was abruptly kicked in the head by "Too bad for you". A real go for the throat kind of song. So then I figured they would tone down then because almost all glam bands feel the need to stick in the mandatory ballad or toss in a few mid-paced fillers. Didn't happen on track on two as "D.E.AD." blasted forward without hesitation. In fact track 3 "Crash, Boom, Bang" and track 4 "When you fall" follow in similar style as Sister make no attempt to hold back. In fact it wasn't until track five "Body blow" that the pace slows, don't presume that this meant that they were showing signs of weakness. If anything this one of the heaviest tracks on the disc. So they changed gears, but kept the force behind the music going strong and steady. The last two listed songs "Top of the line" and "I don't mind if you"have the band still pounding out driving beats and tearing it up. In fact the only slow entry is an unlisted track called “Chop the Top” that comes on at the end of the disc. It's a hazy sounding track that sounds more like half-hearted, drunken jam than anything. Still it works and fits in with their attitude. The overall sound of Sister's EP reminded me at times of Crashdiet particularly in the vocals, but these guys are heavier than that. Nothing totally original going on here, but the enthusiasm and the power behind these songs is what kept my attention. Easily one of the best hard rock releases of the year so far.

http://profile.myspace.com/sisteronline
www.sisteronline.net/