The breakaway pillar of a heavy metal institution returns with a follow-up album that will please fellow defenders of the faith.

KK’s Priest is the fire borne of a man with plenty left to say and more than enough fuel left in the tank. KK Downing is a founding member of Judas Priest who left the band in 2011, citing a “breakdown in working relationships.” Thankfully he was not content to rest on his laurels and has recruited a band that ably captures the spirit of the Metal Gods while being distinct enough to stand on its own. The Sinner Rides Again is a fiery follow-up that certainly delivers the goods promised by the debut record, Sermons of the Sinner. Let us call for The Priest and break the album down track by track:

1. Sons Of The Sentinel starts off with a nice and ominous twin guitar intro that lets you know immediately who is responsible for this project. The mysterious entity in the distance is closing in, and this respite will have to come to an end. The ambience then gives way to pure speed as killer drums and a high-octane riff part your mental seas. Tim “Ripper” Owens wails his way into the picture and we are now firmly in the Priest zone. The Sentinel evokes familiar imagery that will take you back to metallic wasteland previously roamed by metal gods riding on wheels and wings of steel. This band is throwing everything they can at the grinder to avoid a sophomore slump. It’s a very strong start and hooked me much faster than the previous singles that have been released so far.

2. Strike Of The Viper is very straightforward. Crushing riffs, gnarly vocals, and pounding drums are the name of the game here. It’s a perfect mix of aggression, technical prowess, and a hint of danger to keep a listener engaged. Occasionally, heavy metal at its purest is just an elaborate elocution on the primal urge we’ve all felt: sometimes you just want to hit somebody who has pushed you too far. Short and sweet, this song is simultaneously a threat and a promise!

3. Reap The Whirlwind is also a fast-paced track. It wastes no time kicking off with a driving riff that’s punctuated with a solo. This song is driving home a similar message as the previous one: mess with me and you’re going to get what’s coming to you. It’s simple and effective. The solos in this song are off the charts. The great & powerful KK Downing and his new axeman ally, AJ Mills, bring the face-melting heat here.

4. One More Shot At Glory is another track that hearkens back to the past and lore of the Priest. This song is still aggressive like the others, yet it has a more somber, wistful air to it. The speedy licks, chunky riffs, and the delivery of the lyrics are telling a story that can be seen as a search for redemption. The proverbial remedial shot at glory is a second chance. Sin and redemption are a core tenet of the lyrics in the Priest formula. Even when the songs are about a heavy metal machine, redeemer, or oppressor, there is always a deliverance of vengeance or a restoration of balance. Someone does actually have another thing coming! There is an underlying purpose, an unspoken law that colors the equilibrium of this mythical, metallic landscape we’ve all pictured in our minds as we’ve listened to heavy masterworks of the past.

5. Hymn 66 is a nice mid-tempo stomper that gives us a brief respite at the midpoint of the album. We are diving further into the picture that’s being painted for us. The lyrics call forth religious archetypes like the crucifix, penance, fate, and regret. Like a couple of songs on the debut album, this one is a call to action and a benediction for fans of the band who have shown their support for all things Priest. Great riffs and melodies make this a nice turning point towards the back half of the album.

6. The Sinner Rides Again starts off with an atmospheric intro and takes us back into the heavy canvas where KK and the boys paint their steely soundscapes. We get some more toned-down passages here that let the band show off some skill. Clean vocals from Ripper prove that all the accusations of being a mere Halford clone are unfounded, though anyone who listened to the work he did outside of his brief Judas Priest tenure would already know that. KK and AJ let loose and absolutely rip through the metal dimensions with some searing solos here. This is a strong title track that makes a statement.

7. Keeper Of The Graves comes into being with ethereal, sinister chanting and a sermon from The Ripper. The tale then takes a darker turn with punishing riffs and monstrous vocals. This is a song that deftly dances in a space that is both heavy as well as atmospheric. Things come full circle when the chanting returns to wind things down. This is a strong track that I can see sticking with many people who give this album a spin.

8. Pledge Your Souls is another call to the fans. This is evocative of bands like Manowar, who effectively gave a unifying voice to the metal faithful who would embrace the call to adventure. True metal fans are outsiders by nature and when a band can make them feel heard and create a feeling of oneness through song, it’s always a triumph. The Sinner indeed rides again, so you’d better get on or get out of the way!

9. Wash Away Your Sins is a culmination of all the tropes that the Priest is known for, both lyrically and musically. Ambience, heavy riffs, blazing solo runs, molten vocals and a beautiful hint of melody all reach through the flames and touch the emotional centers of a metalhead’s heart. The coalescing of these elements effectively cements this track as a strong closer.

Wrapping Up:

The Sinner Rides Again unquestionably avoids the sophomore slump and is another success from KK’s Priest. I will say that Sermons of the Sinner didn’t reinvent the wheel (of steel) by any means, but it was a fun record, and you can’t deny the comfort that came from hearing those familiar guitar tones and this style of songwriting. That album is what I would refer to as a musical valley, where it started off on a very high note, lost a bit of steam in the middle, but ended in a very strong fashion. This follow-up builds upon the foundation laid down on that previous album and beefs things up with more atmosphere, variety, and a rich production. It’s a much more consistent experience than its predecessor.

Speaking of variety, Ripper Owens is no longer purely relying on his ability to hit the same vocal registers as Rob Halford and finds a zone where he can show more diversity in his delivery while hitting the soaring vocal highs you would want. It’s very welcome and hopefully The Ripper can start getting the respect on his name that he deserves.

Downing and the outstanding assemblage of players he has recruited to his aid have delivered here. AJ Mills is a strong shredder who is a fitting compatriot to Downing, balancing his aggressive tendencies with more stylistic flourishes. Tony Newton on bass and Sean Elg on drums hold down the low end nicely to give the music some serious punch.

KK Downing was seminal in the creation of the genre of traditional metal as it stands today. Many of us would not be here if it were not for his contributions to a godlike legacy that came before. He’s credited as primary songwriter here and it’s proof of how instrumental he was to the more aggressive side of Judas Priest‘s sound. The band is now a branding juggernaut, and it does continue on without him. They are still massively successful, and their output is still very good, but it is definitely not the same.

Downing has vowed to continue defending the dream of heavy metal, and this album is that dream made manifest. I can give The Sinner Rides Again nothing less than my highest recommendation. If you love metal at its purest, it rarely gets better than this. Come to the front of the congregation, repent your sins, and ride with KK’s Priest on the path to redemption.

THENWOTHM SCORE: 10/10

Buy it on Amazon