OK, so I get home from work and what do I find in the mail box? The new X-sinner! Just finished giving it the first spin and here are my initial thoughts:

This is much rawer and rougher in comparison to "Get It" and "Peace Treaty"- but intentionally so on the bands part (IMHO). Last year I interviewed vocalist Rex Scott and this is what he had to say about "Peace Treaty":

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What are your feelings about X-Sinner’s sophomore release Peace Treaty? Are you happy with the way the album turned out? No. Particularly in the guitar tone area. Pakaderm with John and Dino Elefante had their style of production and we really didn't care much for it. That's why we re-tracked it and re-released the songs on Fire It Up in 2006.

So I guess you can understand that X-Sinner was backing away from some of the polish and gloss of the Get It/Peace treaty era.

I also asked Rex about the groups upcoming album (entitled "Back In Red" at the time") and he offered the following:

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How is work progressing on Back In Red? How is the writing and recording process going? Will it be in the same style as previous X-Sinner albums? It will be by far the best sounding record we've done. The guitars are turning out to be exactly what we want and they will even out perform Fire It Up tracks. This thing will be a full on wall of Marshall stacks on ten sounding record. We are about half way thru the recording and hope to have it done by late summer 2007. The songs are very powerful anthems much more in the vein of Get It but with great guitar tones. I scream a lot more on this record than on Fire It Up/Peace Treaty. These are by far the best songs we've written. I guess like a fine wine you get better with age! Ha ha!

My first impression after listening to WCIB is that it features the best guitar sound of X-Sinner's career. I will not be able to judge the low end until I listen to it on a better sound system (thin sounding compute speakers do not always allow you to get a good feel to an albums production).

But the group is definitely going for the AC/DC style sound, particularly the vocals. Whether it is to a fault only time will tell on subsequent listens. But the album, on first impression, seems to be a solid 75% ir 80%.

Andy that's great you interviewed Rex Scott.

I have to confess when I listen to "WCIB" in the livingroom the sounds is different than when I put the album in my computer and listen there.
Maybe it's me?

It takes a cuople of listenings before you "know" an album better.

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But the album, on first impression, seems to be a solid 75% ir 80%.

That means X-Sinner get's a good mark of you.

I don't have it yet, but I've heard negative comments about the production.

I'm interested to hear a final report from you.

I jump in the car to listen how "WCIB" there sounds.
The music is ok for "WCIB", it are the vocals.
When "WCIB" was done on the way they recorded "Get It", "Peace Treaty" it was a perfect album.

I don't mind the change in guitar tones. Its the vocals that annoy the crap outta me. I hate the sound Rex uses on this. I have no interest in this album any longer.

He may not like Peace Treaty, but if this sound is what they wanted on that record, then I'm really glad John and Dino saved them from it!

The vocals sound weird at first, but I can live with them. They were wanting that AC/DC vibe, and they got it.

My beef has been with overall sound quality. Even with it maxed out, you cannot hear the bass or bass drum. They are largely lost in the mix.

Now, maybe it was a better idea if X-Sinner will sound like themself instead of AC/DC?

Up to the fifth spin now and am REALLY digging this- almost to the point I am going to say it is a great album and give it a grade in the 90% range. There are so many hooks here and so much energy.

I just cannot see what people do not like in the new X-Sinner. Yes, I can see how some might not get into the vocals but Chris sums it up best in that X-Sinner goes for the AC/DC vibe and hits the nail on the head.

As for the production and sound quality, I also do not get what is missing here. When I crank it in the car the low end is huge; sure the bass is not mixed clearly like on the new Menchen CD but you can still hear it.

Once again, X-Sinner is trying to re-invent themselves by drifting away from much of the polish characteristic to "Get It" and "Peace Treaty". Just my two cents...

Doesn't really sound like something I'd be real interested in. If I wanna hear AC/DC I just play one of my AC/DC albums. I much prefer their Def Leppard sounding stuff anyway. My favorite X-Sinner songs are "Don't Go" followed by "You Got Me".

I got some Ken Taplin stuff I'll trade you guys for it.

If I didn't have all the Ken Tamplin stuff, I might be tempted.

If any of you guys have the "Loud n Proud +2 disc", that shows the album I was hoping for, it features some great tracks without the Elphante polish but it doesn't have the absolutely comical vocals that WCIB has.

I'm finally getting to listen to this, and I don't see much problem with it production-wise. They got the sound that fits the music, though I'll agree the kick should have been bumped up more. I can hear the bass fine. It doesn't sound like a demo to me - I cannot say the same for any of Saint's releases, for example. My problem is I never liked AC/DC so I'm not keen on a band trying to duplicate them (while I did like JP in Saint's case).