In 2012, lead vocalist Terje Singh Sidhu got together with a rag-tag group of musicians to form some ’80s heavy metal worship called Sinsid. From Rogaland, on the western coast of Norway, this quintet has now written four full-length records, beginning with 2018’s Mission from Hell. Classic heavy metal is a crowded field, no doubt sparked by nostalgia for the brilliance of some of the foundational stuff written by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Blind Guardian, to name just a few. It’s the genre that allows one to write the sort of catchy guitar hooks and anthemic vocal choruses that can sprout hair on your chest. But it’s also easy for bands to slip through the cracks if they’re not able to elevate themselves above the pack. Let’s see how Sinsid stacks up on their latest LP, All That Remains.
Sinsid has composed a collection of catchy mid-tempo tunes that do their best to summon early Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, and Accept. From classic-sounding opening riffs to galloping blast beats and catchy choruses, Sinsid have not only done their homework regarding their influences, but have crafted some worthy tunes that sound great to boot. The energetic “Sarcophagus” recalls a thrashier time in Judas Priest’s timeline, while the ample use of backup vocalists hark back to the Blind Guardian of a twilight world, particularly on the catchy “Pioneers” and inspired closer, “Lords of the Northern Land.” There’s even a touch of Sabaton on “Azad Hind,” a rollicking bit of history about a fighting force that sought to “liberate India from the British Empire.”1 Sidhu serves as the heart of the music, with a vocal performance reminiscent of a much huskier Mark Tornillo (Accept). While he’s not a technically proficient singer, doing more shouting than actual singing, he provides grit and shows a real passion for the music.
Some solid mixing on All That Remains elevates the material by allowing the instruments room to shine. Often the measuring stick for solid production values is the presence of bass, and Grzegorz Urbański’s fretwork is an omnipresent beast, serving as an important backbone throughout the record. The guitars from Jostein Marø and Erik Westerlund also sound crisp and clear, even when the riffs could use a kick in the pants now and then. The two make the most of their talent on the standout tracks like “Sarcophagus” and the brief solos they’re allotted per song, including one that’s quite good on “The Horror (I Know).” The vocal approach is the true heart and soul of the music. The mix gives Sidhu’s voice prominence, to the point that he almost sounds like a different vocalist compared to 2022’s In Victory. He’s louder here, though not always in a bad way. Sinsid also give prominence to the many backup vocalists who participate, and this turns out to be a wise choice. The use of backup vocals goes a long way in amping up the music and providing a sense of brotherhood that I think serves as Sinsid’s truest identity.
While mostly consistent in level of quality content, All That Remains does suffer a few dips here and there as well as some struggles with originality. Sinsid’s largest blunder is opening the record with “All That Remains,” a bit of a downer thematically, as Sidhu sings about “humanity betrayed.” Outside of that, the track’s also not particularly energetic, and it highlights Sinsid’s penchant for too much repetition. Sinsid also make a few choices down the stretch that make their love for their influences a little too obvious. “Breaking All the Rules” has a title and chorus that are a bit too on the nose for Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” while the chorus to “Lawless Hunter” (“You better run for cover”) feels like a lesser version of “Run to the Hills.” Don’t get me wrong, these are quality songs; they just unwisely invite comparisons to better ones.
So Sinsid may not have quite separated themselves from their influences or the myriad other classic heavy metal bands, but they have at least created an enjoyable record. It’s a challenging genre to stand out in, saturated as it is and full of a rich history of some of the best bands the metal genre has to offer. All That Remains proves that Sinsid can write a fun lick or two, and sometimes that’s all you need to have a good time.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Pitch Black Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: July 10th, 2026
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