Mat Sinner

Taking a cue from local heroes Scorpions or Accept, German metalheads Sinner emerged in the early '80s with a series of releases that combined instrumental prowess with the raw, unbridled energy of heavy metal music. The group was formed in Stuttgart in 1982 by bassist and singer Mat Sinner, who has been the only constant member throughout their decades-spanning career. That same year, Sinner released their studio debut Wild'n'Evil, followed by Fast Decision (1983) and Danger Zone (1984), both of which have since attained classic status in the German speed and power metal circles. Released in 1985, Touch of Sin featured guitar by Accept's Herman Frank, who was replaced by Mathias Dieth on 1986's Comin' Out Fighting. After the commercial failure of their more melodic sixth LP Dangerous Charm in 1987, the group went on indefinite hiatus until 1992's No More Alibis, which featured a heavier sound even by the band's standards. For the remainder of the decade, Mat Sinner continued to perform under the Sinner moniker, releasing albums like Judgement Day (1997) or the critically acclaimed Nature of Evil (1998) while also participating in the side projects Primal Fear, Level 10, and Voodoo Circle. Other notable releases from the band include the Top 50 entries Tequila Suicide (2017) and Santa Muerte (2019), as well as their eighteenth studio effort Brotherhood (2022), which became the highest-charting album of their career by peaking at Number 12 on the German charts.