New ensemble Sainted Sinners are back quickly with their follow-up to 2017's hot self-titled debut album, this one called Back With a Vengeance. Once again led by vocalist David Reece (ex-Accept) and guitar virtuoso Frank Pané (Bonfire), the band are rounded out by the ex-Purpendicular rhythm team of Malte Frederik Burkert (bass) and Berci Hirleman (drums). While the debut album really had a strong Whitesnake/Deep Purple feel to it, the band have taken that one step further by adding some Van Halen and UFO influences to the fold, making for perhaps a more guitar heavy album this time around but equally as hard hitting and impressive.
With the departure of Ferdy Doernberg, there's obviously a bit less of a keyboard presence here on Back With a Vengeance, which gives Pané much more room to shine. The title track is pure Van Halen worship circa "Hot For Teacher", Pané and Reece doing their best EVH/DLR impression on what is a real catchy hard rocker with some sizzling guitar licks, while the epic opener "Rise Like a Phoenix" keeps the strong Purple/Rainbow connection from their debut. The moody, bluesy "Tell Me I Was Wrong" bleeds scorching guitar solos, passionate vocals, and smoldering Hammond, while the Ritchie Blackmore love comes out in full force on the dark, dramatic "Nothing Left to Lose". Fans of the Michael Schenker Group will love the metallic guitar work and hooks on heavy rockers "Burning the Candle" and "Waiting Till The Countdown Begins", but if it's the Deep Purple/Whitesnake styled bluesy/heavy rock material from their debut that you are drawn to, look no further than the excellent tracks "Let It Go" and "When the Hammer Falls". Killer guitar work, vocals, and grooves on these two for sure, but it continues on the grinding "Pretty Little Lies", a tune that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Purple's Come Taste the Band album or Whitesnake's Saints and Sinners classic. Back With a Vengeance closes with the smoldering blues rocker "Gone But Not Forgotten", a must for any fan of recent UFO as well as Rainbow's late '70s gem Down to Earth.
This is a really strong album from a band who have clearly shown their excellent debut was no fluke. Sainted Sinners are here to stay folks, back to kick your ass 'with a vengeance' one year after than stunning debut with another '70s/80s styled heavy rocker that reeks of class and virtuoso musicianship. Don't miss it!
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Rise Like a Phoenix
2. Burnin the Candle
3. Back with a Vengeance
4. Tell Me I Was Wrong
5. Nothin Left to Lose
6. Waiting Till the Countdown Begins
7. Let It Go
8. When the Hammer Falls
9. Pretty Little Lies
10. Gone But Not Forgotten
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