ALBUM REVIEW: War Within – Any Given Sin

Hard rock outfit ANY GIVEN SIN have just put out their debut full-length War Within. The Maryland-based four-piece might be a familiar name to those in the rock scene, probably down to one of several factors including that they have amassed 20 million online streams, toured with the likes of STEEL PANTHER and CROBOT, and already enjoyed rock chart success. It’s surprising to hear after all that that this is only their debut album, but, hey, what matters is that it’s here now and it’s been well worth the wait.

From start to end, ANY GIVEN SIN stand out in the best way possible through their beautiful blend of heavier rock elements and the theatrical, creating something that is powerful yet vulnerable at the same time. Opening with the title track, listeners are immediately greeted with fast guitar combined with sound effects; add in some stunning production and its mark has been made as a solid industrial rock song. Only a minute in and already we have thoughts of stellar live performances complete with special effects, props, and, potentially, costumes that capture the essence they’re going for. And it doesn’t end there with a catchy chorus, strong vocals, and insane guitar breakdown – one song in and already they’ve made an impact.

There are many instances heard throughout War Within that further cement ANY GIVEN SIN‘s place in the modern hard rock scene. There are moments that transport you to genres like sci-fi, as heard in Still Sinking, and horror, as on the aptly-named Insidious that’s complete with ghostly child laughter. There are moments of anger too, especially highlighted on the album’s stand-out track House On Fire which opens with doomsday alarms paired with rock instrumentals that perfectly highlight the anger and frustration. At first, the song comes across as commentary about humanity following a dystopian event, whether they will stand together or turn against each other in their darkest hour, yet the narrative seems to fall more into urging its listeners to take down the patriarchy before things get worse.

That’s not to say that War Within is full-on throughout. As mentioned, there are moments of vulnerability, particularly during the two slower songs. One is final track Dynamite that offers a pairing of soft rock and twinkling sounds that create an almost lullaby, and the other is recent single Cold Bones, a track that is most personal to the band and their links to the military, a homage to lost friends. It’s a power ballad that perfectly captures that emotion following loss.

Powerful and beautiful are the two words that best describe this experience. Listening to War Within just confirms exactly why ANY GIVEN SIN have earned their fans so fast, and we can’t wait for more.

Rating: 8/10

War Within is out now via Mascot Records.

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