KK'S PRIEST
The Sinner Rides Again
Napalm Records
There is no doubt from the opening chords of "Songs of The Sentinel" that KK'S PRIEST has definitively avoided any sophomore jinx with The Sinner Rides Again (appropriately released on Napalm Records, since the sound is absolutely incendiary).
The record, like the band itself, is unwaveringly top-of-the-line quintessential and pure "British Steel" - authentic heavy metal at its finest - and it checks all the boxes thematically and musically, from the relentless Morlock-like industrial rhythm and bass foundation, to the anthematic chants, to the themes (biblical, occult, and literary), to the glass-shattering range of Tim "Ripper" Owens (sounding better on record and live than ever before), and, finally, to its soaring guitar harmonies and leads - the trademark, after all, of founder and former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist, Ken "KK" Downing [AKA The Sinner], who also wrote all the material on this album, with help on a couple of the tunes from his long-time protege and co-guitarist, AJ Mills.
All the members of Downing's formidable band have returned for this second album and soon-to-commence European tour, and both Owens and bassist Tony Newton (recording engineer and producer, and best known previously for his work with IRON MAIDEN and his own band, VOODOO SIX) have said that part of their deep commitment to the KK'S PRIEST project is to honor Downing. "It's absolutely top priority," Owens says of this album and upcoming band touring, - despite his other solo and side projects.
The same attitude applies to Newton who was involved with the pre-production of the album in the capacity of "recording the drums and the bass lines, and obviously playing bass too ... I recommended the mix engineer as he is a top metal guy." Newton adds, "I know Ken's enthusiasm, and you respect that and you want to support it!"
Although Owens (in a recent interview for the purpose of gaining insight into The Sinner Rides Again) admits that "this is the first album that KK's ever been the sole songwriter on from start to finish that I know of," the lyrics, also from Downing, are as impressive as the musical counterpart.
The album also came together in a slightly unusual way because Downing, Newton, Mills, and drummer Sean Elg were all over in the UK to do much of the recording live and together, while Owens remained stateside at his home in Ohio, where he has a recording studio. He admits that KK really wanted him to come over to England to get together to record "because he is old school about that," but that he "pled my case to let me do it in my home studio and just lay the vocal tracks from here," which he did once receiving the lyrics and the already recorded instrumentals. In that way Owens was able to experiment with the vocals (some of which are multi-tracked) to get the right feel and sound.
The final result is an album that demonstrates Owens' vocals stunningly on the mark (he does admit to limiting talking, and not partying after gigs to maintain it while on tour). The rest of the band, too, with a tour and two albums behind them, and one to soon commence, were in a tight groove with an easy confidence shining through in masterful performances in the neo classic heavy metal album that The Sinner Rides Again truly is.
Highlights of The Sinner Rides Again include the blistering and compact "Reap The Whirlwind", "Hymn 66", "One More Shot At Glory" and more. Although the individual tracks are all ready for prime time, where they will certainly be even more powerful live (a couple of them were included in the band's live Euro tour earlier this year), the recorded version of The Sinner Rides Again consists of nine pages straight out of the Heavy Metal Bible, with only one listen necessary to prove it.
4.5 Out Of 5.0
