By Arielle Baer
Sinacore, the lead singer of the Queens-based heavy metal band Severed, sings each of his verses with extraordinary intensity. The melody he and his band produce is heavy, each beat more powerful than the last and Sinacore's growls complement them perfectly. Backing him up on guitar are Justin Whang and Rainner Lins, whose riffs are equally as forceful as Sinacore's voice. Carlos Gomez on bass and Jorge Sosa on drums complete the Severed sound. Severed formed in August of 2001 and a year later released a four-song demo, Homicide. The demo wasn't of perfect quality, but it still did its job perfectly – selling rapidly at concerts and keeping the fans coming back for more. Currently Severed has a few tracks from their forthcoming full length CD for sampling on their website and with an increase in time and budget (the demo was done in one day for a mere $600) the band's true talent is able to shine through. Now, the band is preparing for the release of the forthcoming full-length disc, featuring “Take Down the Plague.” The song opens with a soft guitar riff, reminiscent of some of Metallica's earlier work. Then, with an eerie warning that “everyone's gonna die,” the song quickly breaks into something much heavier. Severed's ability to mesh these different musical elements is what makes them so enjoyable to listen to. They defy conventional labels; once you think you have them pegged they quickly shift gears, always keeping the listener interested. Their influences range from popular bands like Pantera and Slayer to lesser-known groups like Cradle of Filth and Fear Factory. This wide array of influences is reflected in their sound, which can only be described as an amalgamation of several different styles – from trash, to hardcore, to death metal. Needless to say it's a sound that isn't heard very often, especially on mainstream radio. Not fitting into this so-called mainstream genre can make it that much harder for a band to breakthrough. “There is a problem with some of the music out there today,” Sinacore told Raging-Metal.com. “That problem is that it has no substance to it anymore. It's a shame that everything has to sound the same to be considered good.”Severed, like most emerging bands, hopes to change that stigma and help open the doors for bands of all types and varieties. And radio play is the first step. But while they wait for the checks to start rolling in, Severed will go on playing their music for anyone who will listen. Music that not only makes you want to get out of your chair, it will make you want to throw it too. For more information on Severed, including show dates, visit www.myspace.com/severed.
