ALBUM REVIEW: DROWNING POOL SINNER – 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Release date 5 June 2026
Texan band Drowning Pool released their seminal album ‘Sinner’ in 2001. It remains a definitive nu-metal meets old-metal milestone. The album relies heavily on the late vocalist Dave Williams’ aggressive vocal delivery and the band’s drum and bass rhythm section’s relentless and driving heaviness.
Over twenty-five years, the album has been embraced and reviewed by the music press. All Music praised ‘Sinner’ as “a welcome breath of fresh air in the midst of all the so-called ‘hardcore’ that is on the airwaves today”. Q Magazine hailed the album as “The point where old and nu-metal meet. The impeccable riffs and uncompromising rhythms are perfectly balanced by Dave Williams’ fashionably angst-full lyrics”. While Rolling Stone declared, “Sinner…. is Drowning Pool’s finest moment on the disc and may well provide another rallying cry for alienated new-metal fans”.
This version of the album on vinyl or CD has the original eleven songs, from the freight train of ‘Sinner’, and the signature hit ‘Bodies’, through to fan favourite ‘Tear Away’, and followed by ‘All Over Me’, ‘Reminded’, ‘Pity’, ‘Mute’, ‘I Am’, ‘Follow’, ‘Told You So’, and ‘Sermon’ all anchored by Dave Williams’ raw and commanding voice.
This 25th anniversary reissue from Craft Recordings gives fans a reason to revisit the album. It also has three bonus tracks: a demo of ‘Break You’, a song with Rob Zombie’s vocals on ‘The Man Without Fear’ that was on the Daredevil soundtrack, and a remix of ‘Bodies’ by Chris Vrenna's XXX Tweaker Mix.
Why is it worth revisiting ‘Sinner’?
Well, Drowning Pool’s first album was an oddity. In the nu-metal world (which was odd already), the band made an angry heavy metal album. There was no crossover complexity with rap, no electronica, no unusual guitar tunings, no masks, no schtick, and they were not all that flashy or commercial. But they had that grunge sound of the loud-quiet-loud sonic dynamics working for them, and a barrage of rage!
The quality of songwriting on ‘Sinner’ was robust. The majority of the songs leave a lasting impression. The huge hit of ‘Bodies’ still hits hard and is about the joy of being in the mosh pit. The other standout songs, ‘Tear Away’ and ‘Follow’, are worth revisiting. Drowning Pool were a band that valued substance over style. The rest of the album is worth your time, and ‘Sinner’ does not disappoint.
