Review | Sainted Sinners – High On Fire

Roar / Soulfood

The fifth studio-album of international outfit Sainted Sinners has taken over three years to write and complete. I was not super enthusiastic about predecessor ‘Taste It’, as there were only a few memorable tracks on that one. Time for revenge for guitarist Frank Pane, drummer Berci Hirleman (the only two remaining original members), singer Jack Meille, new recruit Sami Saemann (bass) and keyboardist Ernesto Ghezzi?

STAND-STILL

After hearing the eleven songs on ‘High On Fire’ including a watered-down version of The Who’s ,,Who Are You’’ that does not have the intensity of the original version, I must conclude that Sainted Sinners has come to a stand-still. At least it seems that way to me. The overall sound is very good, so that is a positive. And at the moments where the tempo goes up (opener ,,Crown Of Thorns’’ and ,,Sweet Sweet Addiction’’) we are confronted with Sainted Sinners at its best.

Meille hits the right note and the interplay between Pane and Ghezzi reminds you possibly of the heydays of Blackmore and Lord in Deep Purple. The ghost of Jon Lord really has crept in the playing of Ernesto Ghezzi big time when you hear his escapades on the Hammond organ. Nothing wrong with that. But the bulk of the album is filled with mid-tempo rockers that are sometimes a bit boring. It just does not have that bite and it sounds like the band is going through the classic rock motions.

COOL – NOT SO COOL

The album has more or less the same characteristics of predecessor ‘Taste It’. Some cool songs, some not so cool songs. Take for instance ,,Hide In The Dark’’. That sounds more like Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark instead of a classic heavy rock band. Other tracks such as ,,Out Of The Blue’’, ,,Down In The Hole’’ and ,,Sunshine’’ just do not make a lasting impression at all. The ballad ,,Lost in A Storm’’ is decent, but not much more than that.

SAINTED SINNERS – THE CONCLUSION

‘High On Fire’ has its moments and certainly has a good sound. But in principle it should all be about the songs. They might be well executed by the band but the bulk is just mediocre at best. So, in this case I must conclude that Sainted Sinners has not taken revenge at all as this album has the same problem as ‘Taste It’. Just a few good tracks and a lot of mediocrity. I had expected better….

Release date: 21 November 2025