We're still preoccupied...with 1985!
It's fair to say that when searching for good rock music then a place I may very well look over is Iceland, however power/rockers Sign are trying to put an end to that with an onslaught of heavy chunky riffs, thumping beats and screaming rock vocals.
First song 'Lift Me Up' starts off with some heavy chugging riffs and it sounds like a Slayer song until the vocals jump in. This is what we have in store for the next 40 minutes. The problem is that the vocal style, or rather pitch is a little too glam and straight from the 80's. 'Lift Me Up' but it could be said has enough elements of Screamo for it to just work, however on the likes of 'A Little Bit' the song sounds like something straight out of an 80's feelgood movie like 'No Rtreat, No Surrender'. Don't misunderstand me it sounds good, and is fine if you love that dated sound, however it is just that – dated. The vocal style is somewhere between Phil Lewis from Original LA Guns fame, and Mark Slaughter, great range and power but a little out of fashion.
The riff on 'Love To Be Loved' is about as classic as you can get and could've been penned by Black Sabbath. There is a party feel to the sing-a-long chorus and it's good harmless fun. 'What You Don't Know' is another great slice of classic cock-rock and sometimes it's hard to put up much of a defence over this sort of music...wait, hear me out! Catchy riffs with beats that will have you moving and songs that get in your brain. The best thing is that there is no doubt that it is rock, so there is no debate over whether it's too poppy.
Title track 'Thank God For Silence' could be Iron Maiden going glam, whilst 'So Pretty' brings in Muse-influences. 'When Demons Win' has more metal music like Trivium with screaming lyrics that could well have lovers of the aforementioned band dribbling with raw power and passion.
Track 9 is untitled, slow and slightly different to the rest of the album. With slight leaning towards their song 'So Pretty', this track is slow, mystical and slightly experimental and includes the lyrics, "Finally, they know me//Finally, they understand// Just how much they fucking hate us// Now I'm free// Now I can see".
Frantic and positively bombastic drumming from Egil starts off final song 'Never Stop Rockin', and once again there is fast paced guitar work from Arnar G and lead screamer Zolberg. Working himself up into a rock frenzy, Zolberg is a front man from back in the day.
So perhaps, my hard-rocking amigos, some of the countries outside of England and America are stuck in a bit of a time warp what with bands like Gothard from Switzerland with their AC/DC rock, Sweden's Hardcore Superstar and their 70's glam, and of course Eurovision champions Lordi with their 80's rock. Put along side these guys and Sign don't seem out of place, however next to the rest of the world it does sound like something from the past and not from the future. There's no doubting that you will have fun with these guys, and with their lead singer (who is only 19), they may well grow and mature in to something more mainstream, but for now let's remember the 80's and pump our rock hands in the air with a big "Hell, Yeah!"