Album Review: Vandenberg - Sin
Reviewed by Lana Teramae
Vandenberg have come a long way since their self-titled debut studio album from 1982, which contains the hit single, 'Burning Heart.' Since then, they’ve released three more studio albums within the span of almost 40 years. Now, Vandenberg will release their fifth studio album, simply titled ‘SIN,’ on August 25, 2023 through Mascot Records.
The genius behind the band is none other than Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, who famously played the solo on Whitesnake’s number one hit, 'Here I Go Again,' from the self-titled 1987 album. He also co-wrote the material for the following Whitesnake albums, ‘Slip of the Tongue’ and ‘Restless Heart.’ In later years, he wrote and recorded “A Number One” as the theme for his hometown Dutch football team, FC Twente. He also formed Vandenberg’s MoonKings in 2013. Through that project, he released two studio albums and one acoustic album.
Vandenberg’s latest offering, ‘SIN,’ is the follow-up to the band’s ‘2020’ album, released that year, of course. The lineup consists of Vandenberg on guitars, Mats Levén on lead vocals, Koen Herfst on drums, and Randy van der Elsen on bass guitar. Bob Marlette, who produced the ‘2020’ album, was brought back to produce ‘SIN.’
The album opener 'Thunder and Lightning' gets the blood pumping right away. Imagine this being the first thing listeners hear from Levén on lead vocals. Not bad at all.
The title track is a combination of Whitesnake and Dio. It’s dark and menacing, and the guitar riff is heavy. "Sin. Just a tiny, three letter word, but one with a very comprehensive meaning,” said Vandenberg in a press release. Lyrically, people can connect with the song because everyone struggles with the temptation to sin.
'Light it Up' is a fun stadium rocker with a memorable chorus, pounding drums, and a killer guitar solo. 'Walking on Water' is a throwback to ‘80s hard rock and heavy metal. It grooves hard, thanks to the thumping bass line. ‘SIN’ is like a gun machine; it doesn’t really slow down until the second to the last track of the album, the heart-wrenching 'Baby You’ve Changed,' which is a ballad. The album closes with the mid-paced and haunting “Out of the Shadows.” It’s another fine blend of Whitesnake and Dio.
It’s worth noting that the production on this album is terrific. The instrumentation is well-balanced, the guitars have the right amount of crunch to them, the drums aren’t overwhelmingly loud, and the sound isn’t muddy at all. The songs are memorable and catchy, the guitar riffs are scorching, and despite it being a new album, there’s definitely a familiarity with Vandenberg’s ‘SIN.’ Not just because of the David Coverdale vocals, but because of the old-school feel to it. Hard rock and heavy metal fans will not be disappointed with this release!
