Hailing from the island nation of Malta, Cinnamon War blends 90's mainstream rock with modern pop-rock sensibilities to produce a highly commercially-viable sound that appeals to both the casual listener and those who are more serious about music. Having formed in 2011, drummer Samuel, bassist Andre, guitarist Robert, and vocalist Mike have collectively released 4 singles since 2014. Their most recent single (released April 7, 2016) "Tell Me Now" is definitely amongst their best and accurately displays the raw talent of the band.
Upon hearing the opening few seconds to "Tell Me Now", a sonic signature that sounds like a mixture between James Blunt and Four Star Mary comes to mind. The introductory drum beat leads well into a relaxed, yet charged guitar riff. As the verse begins, Mike's voice harkens back to the late 1990's with its subtle mixture between raw openness and refined control. Balanced drums complement the bass groove's serious tone as the guitar continues its languid, reverb-drenched journey across the fretboard. As the song progresses, a harder tone becomes more prevalent and the guitar takes a definitive turn towards that style of playing. More distorted, well-defined riffs take over the mellowed guitar from earlier and Mike's vocals follow suit. A ripping guitar solo marks the climax of the song's instrumentals as Robert makes his instrument scream in a hard, bluesy tone. The track finishes with a downward chord progression and Mike's voice echoing in the background, leaving the listener with a rockin' feeling.
Another especially notable single from Cinnamon War is "Shadows". Released in October of 2014, it takes on a more somber mood lyrically and instrumentally at first. Delicate cymbals fading in and out accompanied by reverb-toned guitar licks with Mike's more subdued voice mark the beginning. As it nears the chorus, however, the guitar suddenly takes on a more traditional rock sound and the drums intensify with volume and more complex fills. As we enter the chorus, the song totally transitions into a "classic-rock" styled track. Although the bridge sees them bring down the dynamics, from the first chorus to the end, the song maintains a high-energy and somewhat urgent sound with creative guitar riffs and fast-paced drums. Ultimately, it concludes on a high note with Mike screaming "Dance with the shadows!"
With a band like Cinnamon War, it's difficult to see them not becoming popular with frequent radio-play and mainstream success. Their sonic qualities give them the opportunity to tow the line between commercially successful and underground indie favorite. I highly anticipate their first full-length release, but until then, check them out on BandCamp and be sure to head over to their website and Facebook. Rock on Cinnamon War...Rock on.
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