Sirens Of Titan - S/T 2009

I was talking with my wife the other day about how bands with female vocalists seem to have a harder time making it in the metal scene than those with male singers. She said it was because they get lumped in with bands like Nightwish or Otep. I for the most part agree with her and maybe even have to push it further. It isn't just in the metal scene but in the rock scene as a whole. Female vocalists tend to get thrown under the comparison bus or simply classified as a clone.



That's what sparked my interest in the band Sirens of Titan. I had read a couple of things about them recently, most notably about Felicia Mitchell, singer. I had heard the obvious comparisons that most traditional female rock vocalists get...Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart) and Grace Slick. I was sold on the premise that the band had some of that 60's hard rock mentality mixed with a good helping of stoner metal grooves similar to Trouble, Kyuss and Clutch. Add in the female vocalist and wow...I had to get it.

And I am really glad I did.



First of all, Felicia does bring up those names of comparison, but she is unique all on her own as well. Much like Janis Joplin had a sound to herself, so does Mitchell in that aspect. Her voice can be tender and flowing, haunting even...and then as brash and powerful as Dallas Brasca or Grace Slick...while invoking the depth of the Wilson sisters. She's not one to have comparisons brought against...she's a new name to be compared to.

Named after the 1959 novel by Kurt Vonnegut, Sirens of Titan slip a few other science-fiction references onto their self-titled debut album, most notably in the Scientology-tweaking 'Thetan Audit.' But their chief interest isn't sci-fi, but sludgy stoner metal in the vein of Sabbath and the Melvins, with guitarist Sam Rhode, drummer Conan Malady and bassist Matt Duffin brewing up a cauldron of noise that is well matched by vocalist Felicia Mitchell, whose tough-girl roar makes her sound like the kind of woman who might not start a bar fight, but could certainly finish it.



This debut album is a full hour of epic kick ass in the vein of the bands I mentioned before: Sabbath, Kyuss, Trouble, Clutch and even Soundgarden in some ways. The end result is a straight up mixture of doom laden, bluesy heavy rock and metal that will get even the most jaded rock fan bobbing their heads. SoT have a few standout tracks on this disc, most notably the funky "Lothario","Hang me Twice" and "Thetan Audit". Other tracks like "Dancing Methusaleh", "43" and "Washed Away" are in your face balls to the wall metal monsters. Even the slower, doomier tracks, such as "Saltonaut" are I daresay brilliant in their composition.

This band is not about having a female vocalist as their hook. They are about riffs and groove first and foremost. The fact that they have Felicia taking on the vocal tasks is just another feather in their hat.

This is a definite winner for any fan of female fronted rock and metal bands. It is even more of a winner when you realize that every single track on this kicks ass.

Band: Sirens Of Titan
Album: S/T
Genre: Stoner Metal/Psychedelic Hard Rock
Download: Here

By Bez