I am sure many of you will be familiar with Mat Sinner from his work with both Primal Fear and his own group Sinner. Well before he even began Sinner in 1980, Mat had been playing with vocalist/guitarist Armin Sabol in a “power trio” called Shiva. Well-known for their powerful live performances, the band picked up high profile support slots with the likes of Whitesnake and Gary Moore’s band at the time. 

Unfortunately this live reputation did not translate into the studio and, after two failed attempts at recording a debut album, the band split with Sinner going off to form his own band named after himself. Some 25 years later, the pair were asked to reform for a couple of charity gigs and, sensing some unfinished business with the band, roped in drummer Martin Schmidt to join them in this latest incarnation. This led to an album being recorded during 2005/06, which is now seeing the light of day. In the intervening period, a separate and completely unrelated band has issued an album under the moniker Shiva, hence the addition of “Goddess” to the band’s title to avoid any confusion. 

And so to the music. The album opens with a distinctly Eastern flavour, as befits the band’s name, with sitar, bongos and a wailing female voice before giving way to first proper track, “Walking On Thorns” a slightly more laid-back and melodic rocker than perhaps I was expecting. This all changes as typical Sinner-like metal rocker “Mind Of A Killer” follows, with Sinner handling lead vocal duties. 

I recently reviewed the new Sinner CD and felt that Mat Sinner’s vocals were one of the weaker aspects of the album and I am afraid that my opinion hasn’t really changed. Whilst it is perfectly serviceable, there’s just nothing special about his Thin Lizzy-inspired vocal delivery, which is shown again on “This Ain’t Love”. 

“Gone With The Dough” is a pointless couple of spoken minutes that add nothing to the album and I simply cannot understand the thinking behind its inclusion. 

“Barefoot And Naked” gets us back on track somewhat with its monster guitars and production of a bar-room blues number on which Sabol puts in a fairly decent piece of guitar work. 

“Down On Luck” is pure Thin Lizzy, “Heat Of The Night” is dreadful and after guitar instrumental “Ali Baba”, it’s back to a sub-Whitesnake bluesy vibe with “Same Old City”. “Hold On” has a great opening guitar melody, but descends into formulaic rock-by-numbers thereafter, with especially poor vocals. “Red” rounds the album out with a chugging guitar backdrop and a decent solo laid over the top, but again is let down by rather weak vocals and average song structure and lyrics. 

Overall, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this album as the vocals (of both Sabol and Sinner) really don’t do anything for me and the Thin Lizzy / Whitesnake wannabe numbers cannot touch the quality of the bands they seem to be trying to emulate.

Let us know your views on 'Goddess Shiva'

Track Listing

Heritage Of Shiva
Walking On Thorns
Mind Of A Killer
This Ain’t Love
Gone With The Dough
Barefoot And Naked
Down On Luck
Heat Of The Night
Ali Baba
Same Old City
Hold On
Red
Heritage Of Shiva Outro

Line Up

Armin Sabol – vocals/guitars
Mat Sinner – vocals/bass
Martin Schmidt - drums