Sinch is the group's major label debut, released via Roadrunner Records

Roadrunner Records

Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...

 in July 2002. The album was generally well received, and went on to sell close to 100,000 copies worldwide. Roadrunner decided not to renew the band's contract, leading to a three year delay before they resurfaced with Clearing the Channel

Clearing the Channel

Clearing the Channel is Sinch's follow-up to their 2002 self-titled album. The band signed up with independent rock label Rock Ridge Music for this release, after their contract with Roadrunner Records wasn't renewed.-Track listing:...

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Track listing

1. "To Die In Fall" – 4:14
2. "433 (Hypothetical Situation)" – 4:03
3. "Tabula Rasa" – 3:38
4. "Something More" – 3:45
5. "Passive Resistor" – 3:55
6. "The Arctic Ocean" – 2:56
7. "Seven" – 4:01
8. "Plasma" – 5:00
9. "The Silent Acquiescence Of Millions" – 8:44
10. "Bitmap" – 4:42
11. "Armslength" – 3:52

Musical style

Whilst strongly influenced by the alternative rock stylings of the Seattle scene

Grunge

Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...

, Sinch presents a striking mix of different rock styles. Too commercially appealing to be "art rock" yet too complex and diverse to be nu metal

Nu metal

Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...

 or neo-grunge, few labels other than the uninformative "alternative rock" fit comfortably on Sinch's first major-label outing.

Production and Marketing

After a period of preproduction, the band headed southwest to Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 to record for two-and-a-half months with producer Malcolm Springer, who had previously worked with bands such as Full Devil Jacket

Full Devil Jacket

Full Devil Jacket was an American nu metal band that started as the Voodoo Hippies when Josh Brown, Mike Reaves, Kevin Bebout, and Keith Foster all met at Josh Brown’s brother’s tattoo shop in Jackson, Tennessee. Jonathan Montoya was the last addition to the band as the second guitarist.Before...

 and Liquid Gang. Battling homesickness over an extended period which included September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001 attacks

The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...

, the band nonetheless relished the experience of working for the first time in the music industry "big league".

The Silent Acquiescence of Millions

The 8-minute epic "The Silent Acquiescence of Millions" originated from an impromptu session where the opening bass part was introduced. Those biased towards heavier metal often enjoy the song for its swift melodic bridges, maintaining that these parts define the song to be heavier than the average nu-metal tune. However, those biased towards softer tones and more developed melody often cite its verses and chorus, which start slowly and gather a comfortable pace, as their reason for enjoyment.