Sermons of the Sinner

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Blabbermouth.net	7/10[1]
Kerrang!	3/5[2]
Louder	[3]
Metal Injection	8/10[4]

Chad Bowar of Metal Injection observed that "as you would expect", the album "is very similar to Judas Priest" with tracks that are "pretty focused". Bowar concluded that Downing has "delivered a debut album that celebrates metal's past while still looking to the future".^[4] Both Bowar and Steve Beebee of Kerrang! were critical of the length of "Metal Through and Through", with Beebee going on to say the album "feels less like an alternative and more like a supplement to Judas Priest, small variations on very similar themes. But does it rock? Holy hell, yes."^[2]

Dom Lawson of Louder described it as "a balls-out heavy metal record, not unlike the ones he used to make with that band he used to be in" and felt that "a slight air of petulance permeates this whole thing, as if the six-string legend is purposefully doing Priesty things in the Priestest way possible" by recruiting Tim "Ripper" Owens.^[3] Jay H. Gorania of Blabbermouth.net stated that while the spirit of Judas Priest "doesn't feel as though it has been rekindled as any kind of forced throw-back or cash-grab" as "the sounds are familiar, authentic and moving", "at its worst, though, KK's Priest has the feel of a Priest tribute act" but that "the obvious weak links are fortunately few and far between".^[1]