KK’s Priest - ‘The Sinner Rides Again’ review
KK's Priest by Mind Art Visual
KK's Priest have returned with brand new album The Sinner Rides Again. The heavy metal band led by former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, recaptures their iconic sound in this nine-track wild ride. This powerhouse is jam packed with the thunderous guitar riffs, pounding drums, and commanding vocals we have come to expect from these heavy metal legends.
The Sinner Rides Again is a wild, headbanging journey from start to finish. Opening track ‘Sons of Sentinel’ is instantly explosive with the lead vocals of Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens proclaiming: “We have returned heed the warning”. The energy doesn't let up throughout the entire album, with each track delivering punch after punch of thrashing mosh-worthy delight.
This well-crafted LP is packed full of the themes we can expect from these seasoned pros, exploring rebellion, redemption, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. At times the record feels very much like an extension of Judas Priests famed Painkiller; injected with the same frenetic guitar and vocals, refined for the modern listener.
The production of the album is theatrical and all out. This includes the use of choral elements in such tracks as ‘Hymn 66’, ‘Keeper of the Graves’ and ‘Wash Away Your Sins’, which use multi phonic choral elements to create a haunting atmosphere before Downing and the gang dive back into the brutal instrumental elements they know so well. Similarly, the dramatic build of title track ‘The Sinner Rides Again’ breaks into an all-out duel of guitars underscored by Owens unrelenting vocals.
The album’s one flaw is that it doesn’t really break new ground. It features all the bells and whistles typical of the band and the genre, following on from their last record, 2021’s Sermons of the Sinner. However it is still a bona fide slice of metal madness and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
The Sinner Rides Again is a triumphant return for KK's Priest, proving that the spirit of classic heavy metal is very much alive and thriving. Whether you're an OG fan of Judas Priest or die-hard metalhead, this album is instantly essential in its classic metal nostalgia, honouring the legacy of the genre and a testament to the enduring power of heavy metal music in the modern age.
The Sinner Rides Again from KK'S PRIEST is out now via Napalm Records.