by Greg Prato Originally formed during their high school days in 1994, the hard rock quartet Sinch -- Jamie Stem (vocals and sampler), Tony Lannutti (guitar and synth), Mike Abramson (bass), and Dan McFarland (drums) -- sounds like a throwback to such '90s Seattle rocks as Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. 1996 saw the release of their self-issued debut album, The Strychnine, which resulted in steady shows along the East Coast, and two years later, their sophomore effort, Diatribe. The quartet widened their fan base even further with opening slots for such major-label artists as Korn, Rob Zombie, Linkin Park, Chevelle, and Full Devil Jacket, resulting in a contract with Roadrunner Records. They stepped into the studio with producer Malcolm Springer after inking the deal and came out with their eponymous major label debut, released in the summer of 2002.