Sanhedrin - A Funeral for the World

There are albums that make you realise after just a few seconds that you've found a new companion for life. That's what happened to me a good seven years ago when I heard the first notes of Sanhedrin's debut release, A Funeral for the World. I was so thrilled that I immediately ordered the CD from the band in the US – it wasn't yet available in Europe at the time.

The trio's most outstanding feature is, of course, the magnificent voice of Erica Stoltz. In my opinion, we are dealing here with a perfect mixture of power, feeling and individuality. In my view, Erica is currently by far the best frontwoman in the metal scene, rivalled only by Sarabeth Linden (Tower, like Sanhedrin also based in NYC).

But it's certainly not just the vocals that make A Funeral for the World one of my all-time favourites. Sanhedrin have a rare ability: they can write real hits that never get old because of their songwriting class. The opener “Riding on the Dawn“, “Collateral Damage“, “No Religion“ and “Massive Deceiver“ are among the best classic metal tunes released since the turn of the millennium. Even after countless listens, I still get goosebumps regularly.

In addition to Erica, who plays an important role in the band's sound with her pumping bass, her two bandmates Jeremy Sosville (guitar) and Nathan Honor (drums) must be mentioned as well, as they also deliver a world-class performance. Jeremy's riffs and solos, in particular, are absolutely fantastic!

Fortunately, I have already seen Sanhedrin live several times – and the energy that this power trio radiates on stage is the icing on the cake. If the world were a fair place, this band would headline the biggest festivals. Furthermore, I have already experienced that Erica is a pleasant and very intelligent interview partner – in other words, everything falls into place.

Note: As part of this special, I am posting my 100 favorite records. Full-length albums, compilations and EPs are all included. Live albums will be considered in another special. The first 75 records will be posted in no particular order. The top 25 will be ranked.