Saints of the Underground - Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner
A true super band!
 
Saints of the Underground consists of Robbie Crane (Vince Neil, Ratt), drummer Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) plus Kerri Kelli who played with most 80s bands and currently plays in Alice Cooper. The lead vocals are handled by Jani Lane (Warrant) and this is a big welcome back to Lane, who apart from his solo album has been away from the spotlight for some time.
 
Of course I expected a crossover of Ratt and Warrant in true 80's metal style. Saints of the Underground is a mix of Jani Lane's solo record, which was done in collaboration with Kerry Kelli and Bobby Blotzer's Twenty 4 Seven project, which he did with John Corabi.
 
Saints of the Underground is Hard Rock with a modern twist. The first half of the record is the best part. Tomorrow Never Comes is all Jani Lane. Kerri Kelli pumps out a groovy riff, but Lane steals the show with his vocals and lyrics. Jani Lane has been missed!
 
All In How You Wear It has splendid lyrics and it is the most 80's like Rocker on the record. All In How You Wear It is driven by a swaggering beat with a melodic signature riff that glues the song.
 
"Love the sin, Hate the Sinner" is a modern Hard Rock album, which doesn't sound like Ratt or Warrant. However, the grungy Signs of Life could have been on Warrant's "Belly to Belly", but in general S.O.T.U sound original even though the worn out cover song American Girl drags down the overall impression. The cover version of Rolling Stones' Moonlight Mile isn't an obvious choice with since it's mellow with both acoustic guitar and piano in contrast to this being a very electric record. However, Saints of the Underground keep the Stones feel without being Jagger/Richards impersonators and S.O.T.U even add new elements, which makes Moonlight Mile sound like their own baby.
 
The album contains 10 tracks total - both Dead Mans Shoes and Good Times was released earlier on Blotzer's Twenty 4 Seven record. Of course the two songs are rearranged and sound different with Jani Lane's vocal chords. The album closer Jimmy is an unreleased Warrant song and falls a bit out of place. The cheerful up-beat is a blast from the past when Rock was about having fun.
 
Principally we only get 5 new original songs, so "Love the sin, Hate the Sinner" is categorized as an appetizer only. On one hand it's a bit weak with so few original songs, but on the other hand I am just relieved that the project sees and early release and becomes definitive instead of an Internet buzz. The record is sure worth buying.


Written by Michael
Friday, May 9, 2008
Show all reviews by Michael

Ratings

Michael: 7/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.


This article has been shown 4106 times. Go to the complete list.



RevelationZ Comments











Review by Michael

Released by
Warrior Records - 2008

Tracklisting
01. Dead Man's Shoes
02. Tomorrow Never Comes
03. All In How You Wear It
04. Good Times
05. Exit
06. American Girl
07. Signs Of Life
08. Bruised
09. Moonlight Mile
10. Jimmy


Style
Hard Rock (Modern)

Related links
Visit the band page

Other articles


Z supported shopping






Ratings
1 - Horrifying
2 - Terrible
3 - Bad
4 - Below average
5 - Average
6 - Good
7 - Very good
8 - Outstanding
9 - Genius
10 - Masterpiece
666 - Unrated

More details...


Daily Spotlight
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man, Something Wicked Pt. 2
CoverIced Earth led their ride into glory and metal immortality with the amazing power/thrash masterpiece, "Somet....
Read full review















Retro Reviews

(Tommy)
Virgin Steele - Invictus
CoverWhen it comes to this album, it is no underestimation to say that it has it all; this is my favourite album with my favourite band. The Invictus concept is quite profound and features different cha....
Read full review






(Steen)
Stratovarius - Dreamspace
CoverSince Timo Tolkki recently announced the 'Project Strato: Return To Dreamspace' album, to be released later in 2009, I felt it was time to dig out this little piece of metal history from my archives. ....
Read full review








Archive
 · Albums of the month
 · Retro Reviews
































Back to the top - © 2002-2011 RevelationZ Magazine - Back to the top