Former & founding Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing and his current outfit known as KK's Priest are back with their second album, titled The Sinner Rides Again, basically picking up right where they left off with Sermons of the Sinner, though this time around the music is heavier, better produced, and sounds more like a band and less like a project. Joining KK are ex-Judas Priest member Tim 'Ripper' Owens on vocals, A.J. Mills on guitar, bassist Tony Newton, and drummer Sean Elg.
So, while the guys are still touting songs about sinners, sentinels, and defenders (guess KK wants to keep the Judas Priest comparisons going strong) it's clearly evident from the crushing opener "Sons of the Sentinel" that the band is gelling a bit more than on their debut, the production seems tighter, and the material here stands out a bit more. Downing and Mills have created a never ending supply of crunch-o-rama riffing and blazing solos, and Ripper is doing his trademark variety of high pitched screams, snarling mid-range, and lower guttural roar throughout the album. "Strike of the Viper" is classic heavy metal, "One More Shot at Glory" kicks all sorts of mid-paced power metal gallop-ness, and "Hymn 666" is just a pure headbanger, plain and simple. You have to love the creepy atmosphere of the crushing title track, as it slowly boils over to a monstrous wave of riffage with Ripper wailing over the top. I'd argue the back end of the album is stronger than the front half, with complete bangers like "Keeper of the Graves", the monstrous "Pledge Your Souls", and the doom laden "Wash Away Your Sins" kicking things into high gear to close out the album.
Some have complained that The Sinner Rides Again is loud, distorted, and overly compressed...well, it's a heavy metal album for cryin' out loud! This one gets better with each listen, and I'm now going to give this a higher rating than I did on our YouTube channel a few weeks ago, because it continues to kick my ass more with each passing listen. Crank it up loud folks, cause the Sinners are back to defend your souls from the Sentinels!
Track Listing
1.
Sons Of The Sentinel 04:11
2.
Strike Of The Viper 02:24
3.
Reap The Whirlwind 03:34
4.
One More Shot At Glory 04:27
5.
Hymn 66 04:35
6.
The Sinner Rides Again 04:40
7.
Keeper Of The Graves 05:41
8.
Pledge Your Souls 04:28
9.
Wash Away Your Sins 06:28
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