Details: Jewelcase housed in a slipcase, Guitarists Magnus Danneblad and Anders Karlsson, bass player Magnus Van Wassenaar and drummer Tommy Johansson started out as Purple Haze in Linköping in 1981. When singer Christer Göransson joined towards the end of the year, they soon changed their name to Genocide and supported local metal heroes Axewitch. A final name change was to follow: In April 1983 Mindless Sinner recorded a five-track demo entitled »Master Of Evil«. This attracted Swedish label Fingerprint Records, and they in turn released the NWOBHM-inspired material as a mini-album with an awful cover and also getting the band's name wrong (spelling it Mindless Sinners). This was followed by the first full-length effort »Turn On The Power« in 1986 (once again the album cover was a pretty wild choice!). The band signed to Delta Records, suffered several line-up changes and continued as Mindless, finally calling it quits in 1990 after having released the »Missing Pieces« album. Mindless Sinner reformed in 2015 unleashing their fantastic comeback record »The New Messiah«, followed by »Poltergeist« five years later (both on Pure Steel Records). In the course they were invited to appear at several important European metal festivals (such as "Keep It True" in 2015, their show later also being released as an official live album). With the current line-up of Christer Göransson (vocals), Magnus Danneblad (guitar), Jerker Edman (guitar), Christer Carlson (bass) and Linus Melchiorsen (drums), Mindless Sinner are proud to announce their brand new studio work »Metal Merchants« for High Roller Records (as the band's contract with Pure Steel ran out). "I guess »Metal Merchants« picks up where »Poltergeist« left off," comments original vocalist Christer Göransson. "We feel like »Metal Merchants« is the best we have ever done, even if all bands are saying that about their newest stuff. Overall, »Poltergeist« got great reviews and it was a very strong record. But it was released like a month before the Covid outbreak struck, so I guess it was left to oblivion. The material on »Metal Merchants« is particularly strong, and also the production and the cover are great." Flying the flag for traditional Swedish heavy metal, tunes like the up-tempo opener "Speed Demon" (also the first single) or the title track "Metal Merchants" (a song about the metal community) show how much experience Mindless Sinner have gained over the years. Christer Göransson's vocal performance is absolutely stunning, as well as the guitar playing of Magnus Danneblad and Jerker Edman. The singer comments: "The two are very much underrated. Both, Edman and Danneblad, are great players. But we have never had any egos in the band and everyone is doing what's best for the song. Because the song is everything. Of course you have to be the master your instrument, but without a great song it doesn't matter how good you can play." MATTHIAS MADER

Mindless Sinner - Metal Merchants (CD)