NO SINNER – Old Habits Die Hard [Deluxe Edition] (2016)

“Old Habits Die Hard” is the just released new album from Vancouver-based retro rock outfit NO SINNER. I never heard their debut, but I will soon, as this is a terrific piece of bluesy classic rock album performed with a charm rarely seen.

Before the initial listening, No Sinner disorient a bit… check the 70s-like ‘satanic’ cover and that pervert face behind the woman. A woman which is the band’s singer, called Colleen Rennison. Now read Rennison backwards… No Sinner!
Is this black metal? haha not at all, this great classic rock stuff plenty of different textures and colors, and very, very good for sure.

The opening track ‘All Woman’ sets the scene for the album, with its huge sounding production and the phenomenal vocal range of Colleen Rennison. One of the standout tracks on the album is ‘Leadfoot’ a dirty heavy blues rock number infused with scorching harmonica licks and a driving bass line.
With songs like this and ‘One More Time’ the band have pitched themselves into the same space currently occupied by the likes of Rival Sons or The Temperance Movement; good, timeless Classic Rock.

The infectious ‘Tryin’ is loaded with Southern charm and old-school swagger before the frantic, good time rock n’ roll number ‘Saturday Night’ comes steaming out the blocks encouraging you to let your hair down.
Rennison transports you to a smoky piano bar with the soulful ‘Hollow’, not a ballad as such, but a beautiful, soulful tale of heartache, that has an emotional vocal performance. The Joplin comparisons come in when she unleashes a scream or two, but during tracks like ‘Lines On The Highway’, the comparisons are perhaps more of one of the most respected female singers ever, Carole King.

The album ends with a groove-monster called ‘Mandy Lyn’ driven by a heavy bluesy riff, even the lead vocals feel heavy and dense. Great hard rocking closer, but wait, there’s more on this Deluxe Edition.
As bonus tracks we have the fun, ridiculously catchy ‘Wait’ complete with cowbell and a contagious chorus, ‘I Know It’s A Sin’ is a memorable whiskey-soaked / barroom slow burner, then ‘Slippin’ is just another dynamic classic rock rough diamond.

Placed by marketers in the retro-rock wagon, on “Old Habits Die Hard” No Sinner are much more than that: their style is edgier, harder, classic rock-inspired.
There’s strong guitar riffs, the solos sizzle, whereas the rhythm section is sublime and comes crashing out of the speakers onto your lap. And that voice, Rennison steals the show with a terrific, soulful performance.
This is a joyous album, which no doubt is the end result of countless miles through North America, hitting the dives night after night, corrupting the minds of anyone savvy enough to buy a ticket. Chances of it landing in many albums of the year polls? The bookies have stopped taking bets on that…
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – All Woman
02 – Leadfoot
03 – Tryin
04 – Saturday Night
05 – Hollow
06 – Get It Up
07 – Friend Of Mine
08 – Fading Away
09 – When The Bell Rings
10 – Lines On The Highway
11 – One More Time
12 – Mandy Lyn
BONUS TRACKS:
13 – Wait
14 – I Know It’s A Sin
15 – Slippin’

Colleen Rennison – vocals
Eric Campbell – guitar, backup vocals
Ian Browne – drums
B. Ferguson, P. Bossley. Camirand – bass
Nathan Shubert – piano
D. Heming – organ
K. Tang, L. Raymond, M. Pratt – horns

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01D9YJX4W
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