AnimS – Good ‘n’ Evil

AnimS
Good ‘n’ Evil
Label: Sneakout Records, Burning Minds Music Group
Out: May 31^st, 2024
Playing time: 45:04

AnimS are a Hard & Heavy band from Italy. Band leader Francesco Di Nicola used to play with the Italian Power Metal band Crying Steel, among others. Two previously unreleased songs from the album ‘Good “n” Evil’ date back to this time (‘Liar’ and ‘Satellite’). The Italians released their debut album ‘God Is A Witness’ in 2022. I couldn’t find an official founding date. However, since the first post on Facebook dates back to June 2021, it can be assumed that the band was founded around this time.

The opener ‘The Cherubims’ is a Classic Rock song that could also create a good atmosphere in music pubs. ‘Fear Of The Night’ starts a little more quietly. But don’t worry, a short time later the mid-tempo rocking starts again. ‘Where Were You’ sounds a little darker than the songs before it. And it’s also a little quieter. The singer in particular shines here. In ‘Satellite’ things really pick up speed, but it remains catchy. While the vocals on ‘Leviathan’ sound a little snottier, underpinned by roaring guitars. At the beginning of ‘Dry Bones’ there are quiet, catchy vocals, but later the guitars fry again. There are acoustic guitars at the beginning of the ballad-like introduction to ‘Liar’. Later on, however, there is a switch to the mid-tempo range, where riffs characterise the style. There is also a catchy chorus. ‘Lena’ gets going right from the start, but otherwise fits in with the album’s rather calm Rock sound. ‘Victim Of Time’ is a bonus track that can only be heard on the CD. It’s a pity really, because this very rocky song would have deserved to be on the regular track list. The tempo picks up here, with the guitar and drums driving the singer to peak performances. And the guitar solos alone are simply great. For me, this is the best song on the album. The riff-driven ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ then has a gloomy atmosphere again. The title track ‘Good “n” Evil’ follows at the very end. Here, too, you can hear acoustic guitars at first. Later it is a great Rock anthem.

What we hear on ‘Good “n” Evil’ is well-crafted Hard Rock that tends slightly towards Soft Rock. However, the songs lack a little variety. AnimS were announced as a Hard & Heavy band. But the sound is a little too soft for that. Therefore, a higher rating is not possible. The band has a lot of potential, the musicians just need to realise it. I liked the debut album a bit better.

Anims – Good ‘n’ Evil (Official Audio Streaming): https://youtu.be/uqOPX3gLM8Q?si=444xZg7nbHr-SgoY

Lineup:

Elle Noir aka Chiara Mencarelli – Lead & Backing Vocals
Francesco Di Nicola – Guitars & Bass Guitar
Paolo Caridi – Drums

Track list:

• The Cherubims
• Fear Of The Night
• Where Were You
• Satellite
• Leviathan
• Dry Bones
• Liars
• Lena
• Victim Of Time (CD exclusive bonus track)
• Nebuchadnezzar
• Good’n’Evil