I absolutely adore when emerging bands release their debut singles and already have a distinctive, recognizable sound of their own. This leaves me eagerly anticipating their future releases, wondering what new twists and turns their music will take! That being said, Des Moines, Iowa-based Saving Sidon is one such band that has got me hooked with their debut single, “Shedding Skin”! The opening 21 seconds gave me the impression that it would be a raw, heavier metal tune, but then at 22 seconds, the band breaks into a stunning melodic guitar riff, giving the song a dreamy, romantic quality, which perfectly complements the thrashing and chugging of the rest of the instrumentation. At the 50 second mark, the band pulls off an Ashes Divide-esque moment, which sets up the first verse beautifully. The clean vocals have a raw, grunge quality to them, with just a hint of a raspy boyish tone, which really adds to Saving Sidon’s distinct sound!