As requested, here’s last year’s reissue, Expanded Edition of THE UNION OF SINNERS & SAINTS 2016’s self-titled debut album. This ”THE UNION OF SINNERS & SAINTS [Expanded Edition +4]” includes bonus tracks and new artwork.
Bringing out the best of Petra and WhiteHeart, The Union Of Sinners & Saints offers something brand-new, yet surprisingly familiar. Soaring rock vocals from Petra’s John Schlitt meet production, vocals and instrumentation by Whiteheart’s Billy Smiley, evoking a distinctive echo of what fans have loved for years.
Smiley also secured an all-star cast of musicians including the always great Dann Huff on guitar, Brian Wooten (Whiteheart, Trace Adkins) on guitar, Michael W. Smith on B-3 organ, Bob Hartman and John Lawry (Petra) on guitar and keys, Phil Keaggy on guitar, Peter Furler (Newsboys) on drums & vocals, Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) on bass and other guest appearances on selected cuts. The project also features new artist Jason Fowler on guitar and vocals.
Smiley & Schlitt sure know how to rock loud and proud. But rather than resting on past laurels or cashing in on nostalgia, the veterans have formed the brand new band.
Yeah, there’s a new take on fan favorites including Whiteheart’s ‘Independence Day’ and Petra’s ‘Beyond Belief’, but the rest of the songs are brand new. Even with more than a dozen million album sales behind them, Schlitt, Smiley and the band sound as musically hungry as ever with a straight ahead melodic rock collection that ranks right up there with either co-leader’s best work.
The album opens with the Smiley/Fowler composition ‘Rise Up’. It’s a melodic rock song with a delicious electric guitar solo by Dann Huff.
‘Brother to Brother’ is one of 3 songs penned by Smiley / Schlitt. It is a terrific classic rock number with a great electric guitar solo by CCM pioneer Phil Keaggy. Then we have the ballad ‘Now Not Never’, co-written by former Newsboys (celebrated ’80s poppy AOR act) Peter Andrew Furler who also play drums and contributes some vocals.
Next up is the vibrant cover of WhiteHeart’s 1990 classic ‘Independence Day’ with Schlitt and Smiley sharing vocal duties. Brian Wooten (Whiteheart) and Jonathan Crone provide cool electric guitar solos on this anthemic song.
Legendary CCM artist Michael W. Smith plays a rocking Hammond B3 on the classic rocker ‘Lone Soldier’, followed by ‘The Things We Do’, co-written by John Ellis (Tree 63) who shares vocals with Schlitt. Ellis provides a guitar solo and Michael W. again plays the B3 on this bluesy mainstream rocker about heartache.
Steve Brewster (Peter Cetera Band) plays drums and Anthony Sallee (Whiteheart) bass on ‘Old Guys Rule’, a quite hard rocking number. Vocally and musically it’d fit nicely on Alice Cooper’s 2005 album Dirty Diamonds.
We have another nice ballad in ‘The Call’, then there’s the organic updated version of Petra’s 1990 hit ‘Beyond Belief’. Bob Hartman (Petra) plays the guitar solo and John Lawry from Petra as well plays keyboards.
For the more modern, pulsating melodic rocker ‘Bittersweet’ Chris McHugh (Whiteheart) play drums while Dann Huff provides another amazing guitar solo, and Jason Fowler and John Schlitt sing lead vocals.
For those wondering whatever happened to actual Christian Rock music, look no further than this really good self-titled debut by The Union Of Sinners & Saints. They are every bit as talented musically and vocally as their secular counterparts. The album presents Christian themes, but in a non-preachy, non-judgmental manner. Even there are also a couple tracks that are lyrically suited for mainstream radio.
Those of you who are long-time fans of groups such as Petra, WhiteHeart, John Elefante, DeGarmo & Key, etc, should be very pleased with this album, very well composed, recorded & produced.
01 – Rise Up
02 – Brother to Brother
03 – Now not Never
04 – Independence Day
05 – Lone Soldier
06 – The Things we Do
07 – Old Guys Rule
08 – The Call
09 – My Offering
10 – Beyond Belief
11 – Bittersweet
12 – Christ the Lord is Risen Today
BONUS TRACKS:
13 – One More Shot
14 – I Still Believe
15 – Reckless Love
16 – Unplugged Medley (Fly Eagle Fly, The Coloring Song, Desert Rose, Just Reach Out)
THE UNION OF SINNERS & SAINTS – ST [Expanded Edition +4] (2021)
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