X-Sinner - Fire it Up

Long overdue is this re-release by X-Sinner.  However, what you may be asking yourself is...when did they ever release an album called Fire it Up?  Well, you're not going crazy.  They never did.  But they did release an album called Peace Treaty in the early 90's.  And since the amount of red tape to get that album re-released seemed too much to work through, Retroactive Records approached the band about actually re-recording the album since they weren't pleased with the original.  They accepted, added a bonus track, dropped off a ballad, and here you have it!  Now, I never owned the original Peace Treaty album so I can't really compare the two releases as to which one sounds better.  But I do remember hearing many of these songs on the radio back in the day and I know that this stuff definitely does not sound worse than what I heard on the radio.  The band has beefed up the sound, added more guitar solos, completely re-worked the artwork and re-titled the album after the bonus track, and basically released the album as they wanted to back in the day, but didn't feel they were allowed to do.

Let me just say that it has been a blast listening to this album.  This band's overwhelmingly AC/DC mixed with Def Leppard style has been a nice change of pace from all the other stuff I've been reviewing lately.  This is metal with attitude and grit and a down and dirty passion that you just gotta love.  The screaming of Rex Scott giving off that AC/DC flair, the wailing of Greg Bishop on guitar, and the rest of the band making their presence felt in a big way just makes me want to go and grab my other X-Sinner album, Get It, and toss it in for a spin.  Hearing classics like "Rollin' Thunder" and "Don't Go" and "All I Need" has been a much-needed trip down memory lane. 

To top things off, the band is putting out their first completely new album in ages early in 2007, so I'm definitely looking forward to that.  The only thing that makes me hesitant is the fact that my least favorite track on this new album is the new track.  Not bad, but also not on par with the main tracks that they wrote back in 1991.  But it labeled as a "demo" track so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that this upcoming new album is everything I've come to love about this band over the years.

So, there you have it.  A great choice for a re-release if you ask me.

Rating: 90/100

Review By: Matt Morrow

Label: Retroactive Records

Total Songs: 10

Total Time: 43:08

Tracklisting: 1. Fire it Up (Demo), 2. I Take Power, 3. Gotta Let Go, 4. Rollin' Thunder, 5. Getch Ya, 6. Don't Go, 7. Peer Pressure, 8. We Need Love, 9. All I Need, 10. You Got Me.

Best Songs: Tracks 4, 6, & 9.

Band Lineup: Rex Scott - Vocals, Rob Kneip - Bass, Mike Buckner - Drums, Greg Bishop - Guitar.

Band Website: http://www.x-sinner.com or http://www.x-sinner.org