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MINDLESS SINNER “Metal Merchants”
MINDLESS SINNER “Metal Merchants”
By Colonel Angus
Sweden’s MINDLESS SINNER is back with a baker’s dozen of brand new tracks that harken back to the classic NWOBHM sound. I reviewed their live album “Keeping It True” a while back and to my surprise, I totally skipped over their last record “Poltergeist”. That one snuck past me and to be quite honest, I have no excuse. Well, I wasn’t gonna let their 2024 release “Metal Merchants” get past me without giving it a proper listen (and review).
I’ll be honest with you, MINDLESS SINNER is not trying to change things up which is a good thing. They have a formula that works and they are keeping it true (pun intended) to their sound. I have always liked Christer Goransson’s vocals and he puts in another fine performance on “Metal Merchants”. Along with that, I was happy to see that the core of the band is still intact. Riff masters Magnus Danneblad and Jerker Edman continue to deliver chunky riff and imaginative solos that pile atop the solid rhythms courtesy of long-time bassist Christer Carlson and newest drummer Linus Melchiorsen. I don’t always need continuity within a band, especially when things are working, but with a winning formula like theirs, it does add a sense of familiarity to the tunes.
“Metal Merchants” starts off strong with “Speed Demon” and the title gives it away as it is a fast riffing metal tune that reminds me a little of JUDAS PRIEST. It has that frantic vibe that “Freewheel Burning” has but in no way is it a copy although they do employ the double leads that makes JUDAS PRIEST stand out. Things do slow down some but they keep it heavy on the title track with some great fist pumping riffs and great handbanging lyrics. Songs like that bring me back to the early 80s when metal was still figuring itself out. “Carry On” kind of speeds things up again before we get a DIO-esque epic track called “Third Time's A Charm”. You wouldn’t think they could make that title catchy for the chorus but MINDLESS SINNER figured out a way. There is a SCORPIONS vibe happening with “Hedonia” that is really interesting (in a good way). I like how the guys channel a bunch of influences but still add their own sound to let you know where they come from. So far, this record hasn’t dipped in quality one bit and we are only than a third through the tracks.
Acoustic guitars usher in “Mountain of Om” but it quickly descends into an epic with many parts. It is the longest tune on the record clocking in at almost six minutes. Most NWOBHM songs are not that long but with the multiple parts, the track is over before you realize it. It is surely one of the strongest songs on the record and from the MINDLESS SINNER material that I am familiar with, it is up there with their best. “Let’s Go Crazy” is more basic metal that is performed extremely well and I can see this being a concert favorite (or quite possibly and encore). If that song doesn’t get you on your feet and banging your head, then you need to reevaluate your heavy metal fan club credentials. After something more basic, the band return with a great strutting number called “Believe in Me”. One thing that strikes me is that the sequencing of “Metal Merchants” is spot on with each song standing out because the song before and after a bit different. All the material is strong but having it mixed makes it much more enjoyable for the listener.
I have to admit that the opening riff to “Monsters” is close to “Stand Up and Shout” and reminded me of the opening of “Holy Diver”. The chorus steers clear of that DIO classic but the main body of the song is close to that tune. It is good but not very original; sorry guys. They improve things a lot with the plodding “Storm of Steel” which is both heavy and extremely melodic. It is with this type of material where I feel MINDLESS SINNER finds their own voice while still showing off their influences.
For the next tune “My Hometown”, they throw in a cool galloping riff that makes this track really stand out from the other material. I also really liked the guitar work on this one where both the riffing and soloing really shine. The CD ends with a couple of NWOBHM songs that capture that 80s vibe perfectly. “The Chosen One” and “A Madman is Crying” finish off “Metal Merchants” in fine fashion. To say this is a solid release would be to minimize the quality of the performances and songs on this latest MINDLESS SINNER disk. This is one of the best straight up heavy metal releases of 2024 and you would be missing out if you didn’t get yourself a copy.
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