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On disc: Sinner



Bottom Line - Volker Raabe - 7 stars
In The Line Of Fire - Volker Raabe - 7 stars
Judgement Day - Volker Raabe - 9 stars
The End Of Sanctuary - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars
There Will Be Execution - Claudia Ehrhardt - 10 stars
Crash & Burn - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars
One Bullet Left - Philip Thelen - 10 stars
Touch Of Sin II - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars


www.matsinner.com







Touch Of Sin II

Touch Of Sin II
(AFM Records - 2013)


When I first heard the title of the 'new' Sinner album I hoped for songs from the era of Touch Of Sin, left-overs or stuff which would have fitted that album. Well, it isn't what I expected, but right away - I'm happy with the album anyway.

Touch Of Sin II is a 'best of' of the early Sinner years plus a cover version and two new songs. The songs were re-recorded and so you get them in a modern sound without betraying the originals. Even back then I thought that Bad Girl is a bit too cheesy, but well... Songs like Born To Rock, Comin' Out Fighting and Shout.

The power ballad Knife In My Heart was a highlight at their live shows back then. Don't Believe A Word is a Thin Lizzy cover, but Sinner present it in a modern way - even if it somehow lost a bit of it's charm... After the lovely Emerald, they present a new track Blood On The Sand which fits very well to Emerald and so it's well placed. After Masquerade they close the album with another new song, Heat Of The City. Somehow the song didn't get me. But well, the album is fun.


Track listing:

Born To Rock
Comin' Out Fighting
Bad Girl
Knife In My Heart
Concrete Jungle
Don't Believe A Word (Thin Lizzy cover)
Shout
Germany Rocks
Danger Zone
Emerald
Blood On The Sand (new track)
Lost In A Minute
Masquerade
Heat Of The City (new track)


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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One Bullet Left

One Bullet Left
(AFM Records - 2011)


Since the 80s Sinner is one of the big names in German heavy metal and hard rock scene. Mat Sinner, head of the band, is also known for his other projects, such as Primal Fear, Rock Meets Classic and Voodoo Circle. Beside this it was time to record a new Sinner album with new line up. On drums there is no less than André Hilgers (Rage). Alex Scholpp (Tarja & Farmer Boys) & Christof Leim (The New Black) both on guitar. Especially we all are welcoming Mat's Primal Fear & Voodoo Circle band mate Alex Beyrodt back on guitars who left Sinner back in 2001. So there are three guitarists!

The album starts with The One You Left Behind, a fast melodic rock song with ear catching guitar harmonies. It's a straight rock song with fantastic chorus. Back On Trail follows as a song with a touch of Thin Lizzy (in a very positive way). Guitars are a bit harder but very nice. The band filmed a video clip to this song. They speed up with Give & Take, a straight hard rocker. After that the title track One Bullet Left is a bit slower but also groovy. Again they speed up for 10 2 Death. Classic hard rock at it's best. Great riffing's and an ear catching chorus. With Haunted there is a straight hard rock ballad which shows the calm side of Mat's voice. Again, great chorus with cool harmonies. Atomic Playboys & Suicide mission are following the trend of the rest of the album: Pure hard rock! With Wake Me When I'm Sober the second ballad of One Bullet Left is awaiting the listener. Straight mid-tempo-based harmonies and impressive hooks are leading through the composition. Mind Over Matter is more mid tempo based. Sometimes the chorus reminds me on Udo Dirkschneider, but I think that's my point of view. Mend To Be Broken shows up some guitar harmony lines again. One of my faves. Last song of the album is Rolling Away. This song is great to hang out, not a fast track with great guitar melody spheres.

Three years after Crash & Burn, Sinner is showing that classic hard rock isn't dead at all. With One Bullet Left you have the chance to take a trip back through time to the glorious 80s! It is reduced to everything what you need to do finest hard rock: guitars, drums, bass, vocals and a lot of heart!

Check out the following: The One You Left Behind, Back On Trail, One Bullet Left, 10 2 Death, Haunted, Wake Me When I'm Sober, Mend To Be Broken


10 stars

Philip Thelen
 

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Crash and Burn

Crash & Burn
(AFM Records - 2008)


The band's 30th anniversary is getting closer and in the 28th year they present a quite heavy album called Crash & Burn. The title track is opening up and the first thing you hear is an air raid warning, but then the heavy riffs crash in. These days they are more melodic heavy metal then hard rock, but still Sinner! The heaviness you might expect from Primal Fear, but live Sinner always been heavier then on disc. And again mainman Mat Sinner came up with some catchy hooks which soon make you sing along - like on Break The Silence. Perhaps its the combination of Christof Leim and Henny Wolter on guitars which add the heaviness... And partly gets them closer too Primal Fear. But it's not just the vocals which make them differ! With The Dog they present a heavy rocker, this one isn't really get me... At Heart Of Darkness they add a new facet to their sound, the song reminds me in the beginning of Gary Moore's Out In The Fields... A catchy hook and you won't forget this one soon! Cool tune! With Fist To Face they speed up and even if this one is a simple rocker, its somehow appealing. With Until It Hurts the most balladesque one follows. Very Thin Lizzy-like is Connection and almost make you forget the predecessor Little Head. Sure, Connection isn't showing anything new, but a track which is simply fun to listen to.
Somehow the songs are typical Sinner, but also they introduce new sound facets and they are heavier. Give it a try and listen to: Revolution, Crash & Burn, Heart Of Darkness and Until It Hurts.


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 






There Will Be Execution

There Will Be Execution
(Nuclear Blast - 2003)


From the first moment There Will Be Execution shows that Sinner is back with full power and back to rock! Higher Level Of Violence is a really heavy and fast (double bass drum!) rocker which is harder then what you usually expect from Sinner, but it still sounds like Sinner! This is heavy metal! Now I know what I was missing! The title track There Will Be Execution has screaming guitars - Henny Wolter and Tom Naumann who's back - but also a lot of melody and a catchy chorus. The musical basis is laid down by former Saxon / Victory drum monster Fritz Randow and Mat Sinner on the four-strings and the microphone. If someone expects a soft touch through using a keyboard, you are wrong! Frank Rössler is doing a great job. Die On Command has the unique heavy groove of Sinner and is - even as not a fast one - one of the best songs on the album in my opinion. On this track the guitar duo step back a little to support the song, on other tracks the two six-stringers are showing their talent and create new riffs and solos. The last track is an acoustic ballad called Crown Of Thorns which has power and is really touching. Gives you shivers!
Perhaps this is the best line-up of Sinner... But they have to proof that on stage! I have no doubt that the German quintet will blow the listeners away. They always been a fantastic live band which they proofed while touring with bands like Warlock, Mr. Big, Deep Purple and Dio.
In a nutshell: No fillers, just killers!!!!


10 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 






The End Of Sanctuary

The End Of Sanctuary
(Nuclear Blast - 2000)


The German band of Mat Sinner is releasing albums since the early 80's and The End Of Sanctury is their latest release. Through all the years Sinner sticked to their roots, their style, but the current release is one of their best! It seems that the fresh blood, guitarist Henny Wolter (ex-Thunderhead) gave them more power. Also Henny's guitar play is different to Tom Naumann's and add a new guitar sound to the songs. On this album Mat Sinner and his mates got a helping hand from Helloween drummer Uli Kusch. Uli did a good job, even if I personally don't like his drumming... On the title track new elements been added which gives the song a modern touch. Don't get me wrong, I haven't said that they usually sound old-fashioned!!! I listen to Sinner since the early 80's, since they released Dangerzone which I do, coz I like their sound! The Prophecy is interesting, a mid-tempo track with a catchy chorus... The song is co-written by former Sinner guitarist Angel Schleifer! I can recomment this album to everyone who listened to them in the past.
Probably this is their best album so far... Mat, it won't be easy to do a better one next time!


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 






Judgement Day

Judgement Day
(High Gain Rec. - 1997)


Finally! Mat Sinner and his mates put out their latest album called Judgement Day which is in the tradition of their best releases - Danger Zone, Comin' Out Fighting and Touch Of Sin. Straight German heavy metal that's what it is! The band always had the talent to write melodic and catchy songs, but many complaint that mastermind Mat's compositions are too commercial. Since they toured early last year with Savatage and with a new label they seem to be back to their roots. Sinner present straight heavy metal with songs like the title track Judgement Day, Troublemaker, Jump The Gun, Deathwalker and Pray For Mercy. Where can I pay for this CD?


9 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 






In The Line Of Fire

In The Line Of Fire
(Koch International - 1996)


They finally deliver a live album! Sinner is one of the German heavy metal bands which is around since the early days of metal. A live album was what the fans were missing, but now Mat Sinner and his companions finally present a documentation of their live abilities. Songs from more then 10 years can be found on the disc, even if the sound could be a little more powerful, it's nice collection. Personally I miss classics like Danger Zone, Out Of Control and Touch Of Sin. Anyway, a must for every Sinner fan!


7 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt
 






Bottom Line

Bottom Line
(Koch International - 1995)


Look, Mat Sinner is back! Back to the roots? Anybody who don't like to remember classics like Danger Zone and Touch Of Sin? After the release of the mentioned albums it seems like Mr. Sinner wanted to retire, coz the following release were too soft and too commercial. Now with a new label caking him and a new album called Bottom Line the Sinner rocks again. The songs are very melosic, but always with power and heaviness. Tracks like Roses Of Yesterday, Mercy Killer and The Biggest Lie are documenting the step back in their history, to the roots of Sinner!


7 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 

           ©2008-2015 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


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