The Sigil – Argante Review

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Just the other day I was talking about 1970’s influences some bands have. The 1970’s was a very proficuous for pop music in all forms. It was also a time of all kinds of excesses in the clothing, in the morals, and, of course, in the music. The 1970’s saw the birth of our beloved Metal music, as I and many other people believe. Not exactly with Black Sabbath on a cold Friday on the February 13th, but around that period. Even though some bands back then could be labeled as Proto-Metal, others had been accepted as Metal for some time. As usual, as everything about Metal music, there’s a lot of controversy and enthusiastic opinions about the subject. Ok than, I won’t go further, the real important thing is that Metal music is here to stay and its tentacles spread everywhere. This EP is one more proof of it with its Psychelidec Heavy Rock which borders the Proto-Metal area. That makes “Argante” a very interesting album for all fans that appreciate this kind of hybrid.

Regarding influences I have to say that I feel lots of bands in the myriad of sounds that compose The Sigil’s music. The most obvious is UFO as the heavy and melodic guitars of “Absentia” tell. Though the very modern and updated production, The Sigil got to maintain the 1970’s epoch feeling in each song of the album. Or it’s the keyboards, or it’s the background effects. Hidden in the background, or not so much, there are two influences that I noticed. One of them, and the strongest, is Scorpions from the 1970’s epoch with that Psychedelic sometimes Progressive with lots of heavy guitars and strong melodies. To be honest, I see Scorpions everywhere here as in the initials moments of “The Shape of Shadows” with the church organ and the acoustic guitar whose sound addresses to the 1960’s. However, when the song really begins it addressed  me right to Scorpions and Uli Roth’s neat guitar. Other influence I noticed here, but a little more hidden, let’s say in the details, is The Beatles. Their spirit is also everywhere in the album.

From where I’m standing this is the kind of music that makes me very happy. I love this 1970’s vibe and the contrasts between the guitars and the melodies. I just love the drums in “The Ailing Hour” with all its broken tempos. The prominent bass lines are impressive as well. Another album to nominate. The list is growing bigger.

The Sigil “Argante” will be released on June 16th.

Track Listing:

  1. The Shape of Shadows
  2. Sanguine Spirits
  3. The Ailing Hour
  4. Spirit of the Wild
  5. Absentia

Watch “The Shape of Shadows” official music video here:

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