| Musical Style: Classic Metal | Produced By: Richard Lynch |
| Record Label: Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2010 / 2022 | Artist Website: Saint |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 39:02 |
Salem, Oregon based Saint has been on quite the comeback trail since turn of the century. In 2004, the group independently released via its Armor Records label In The Battle, its first full-length album since Too Late For Living from 1989, in addition to a re-recorded version to its 1984 debut EP Warriors Of The Son (also Armor). An appropriately entitled live album followed in 2005, Live 05, while full-length studio releases came out in 2006 and 2008, The Mark and Crime Scene Earth, respectively (all Armor).
Saint returned in 2010 on Retroactive Records with its fourth comeback offering HellBlade. Album finds Saint staying true to its traditional metal roots but separating with a darker and swarthier vibe combining the catchy aggression to Time’s End (sophomore offering from 1986) with the sleek burnish of Too Late For Living and artistic flair characterizing The Mark (at least that is what this reviewer is hearing). Upshot is a work hailed by fans and critics alike as ranking among Saint’s finest.
Mid-tempo pieces “The Blade” and “Endless Night” (engaging qualities to both) and “Hell Train” and “Sinner Peace” (with their low-end intensity) best embody that darker and swarthier vibe in question. Pace picks up with “New World Order” and “To The Cross”, a pair of boundless energy driven cuts, while it does not get much more powerful than albums driving title track. A melodic heading, in contrast, is taken on “Crying In The Night” and “You & Me” to touch upon the as noted accessible aspect.
Front man Josh Kramer returns with his Halford-like vocal presence with a performance characterized by passion, heart and guts. Bassist Richard Lynch nails the killer low-end groove, while heavy hooted timekeeper Bill Brost puts in perhaps the strongest Saint showing on drums since John Perrine from Too Late For Living. Underrated Jerry Johnson handles all guitar duties in placing himself on similar level as talented predecessors John Mahan and Dee Harrington.
I always felt HellBlade featured the strongest production of the first four Saint comeback Saint. Production further bolsters from re-mastering (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) to the January of 2022 Retroactive Records re-issue of HellBlade to reveal a crisper sound with extra layers of depth and polish. Specifically, I hear better definition to guitars (noting the pronounced rhythm guitar edge) and fuller low-end presence (bass delivers added punch).
Another benefit to the Retroactive re-issue is the jewel case packaging (referencing work of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics) to supplant the digi-pak of the original. Along with a foil stamped Saint trading card, is an eye catching multi-page mini booklet to feature enhanced cover art and lyrics and liner notes in an easy to read.
Track By Track
“The Ascent”, a short instrumental with a symphonic touch, leads the way to “The Blade”. Classic Saint in the truest sense, “The Blade” proves impassioned with its crushing low end and proclivity of an astringent quality. Despite the weighty focus, riveting your attention will be the forthright hook and Johnson’s razor-edged guitar leads.
A more upbeat direction is taken on “To The Cross”. This one brings a profusion of energy, reflected in its charged verse sections and terse but spirited chorus upheld by backing vocals guttural as they get. Adding to the exuberance is Brost, who literally goes all out behind the drum kit. “To The Cross” touches upon the second coming:
The darkened clouds approach
And sundown is upon them
The earth is quaking now
The fighting’s just begun
Rumors, terror and war
The fig is ripe and ready
At tribulations door
Give it to God
You know He is the way
“Crying In The Night” brings a melodic flair. Melodic, of course, does not mean any less heavy, as is aptly demonstrated in the strapping riffs carrying its distance. It must be noted how the bands youthful vigor approaches the infectious while the same can be said for the non-stop hook chorus.
“Hell Train” slows things to a rumbling mid-paced snarl. Low-key, dark and strapping, this one kicks up a storm of insolence with its forceful bass lines and Josh Kramer’s consummate vocal performance. Johnson’s lead work literally flashes between the left and right channels.
Sustaining the mid-tempo propensity is “Endless Night”. An ominous presence resonates by the song, holding sway over moments ranging from the forceful and trudging to those bordering on the prodigious. The melody you will find gripping and low-end muscle massive. “Endless Night” deals with how judgment is at hand:
As we crest forsaken tides
When the word starts burning
And the loved ones left behind
The time is now for turning
One last flight, the trumpets call
A flash, we’re gone, a new day
You can fight or come along
Let’s taste of life a new way
“You & Me” represents a return to a melodic heading. Similar to “Crying In The Night”, you will be presented with an upbeat tempo and more than abundance of continuous hooks to go around. One cannot help but appreciate the left turn the song makes into a blues flavored instrumental section.
“New World Order” is as heavy as it gets. With hammering guitar riffs and assailing impetus leading the way, the song establishes an aphotic environs and joins it with lyrics of an apocalyptic variety:
World governments colliding
Foot in the end time snare
We’ve beet the drum of reason
No one seems to care
Terrorist militias mounting
The words forgotten tears
And now the end is at the door
It’s at the door insisting
I particularly enjoy the spoken word interlude that gives way to the albums best stretch of lead guitar.
This reviewer’s choice track is “Sinner Peace”, a tenacious four and a half minute assault that finds Saint putting forth a performance machine-like in its precision. Unwavering bass adds to the inauspicious leanings, made evident in a chorus trending towards the portent if not all out foreboding. The focus of “Sinner Peace” is on Christ:
He’s the Sinner Peace
The Knight that’s shining
Full of Glory
He’s your inner peace
He casts His light as He goes before me
“Hell Blade” draws things to a fitting close. Moving at the faster tempo in comparison to its two predecessors, the song maintains the dusky heaviness of much the albums material while yielding the occasional trace of the symphonic. Harsh and biting backing vocals step forward to drive its chorus. “Hell Blade” is a synonym for the Antichrist:
And he walked out from the sea into the city
To set his rule and be a king
And the people of the world saw he was mighty
Amazing peace that he will bring
From the darkened pit he rises up to power
To build a throne with his armies
On the temple mount he sets up to devour
All the earth is sure to see
Now bow to me
HellBlade is highly regarded as one of Saint’s finest efforts ever. It comes down to a choice combination of songwriting, nine equally good full length songs and short instrumental, and band performance, keyed up and yielding full on intensity. Yes, as always founding member’s vocalist Josh Kramer and bassist Richard Lynch are spot on as is guitarist Jerry Johnson, but deserving equal credit is the inspiring timekeeping of Bill Brost. No doubt, the original version to HellBlade was ably done - not to mention out of print and hard to find - but the Retroactive re-issue is highly recommended in taking things to the next level with its improved re-mastering and packaging.
Track Listing: “The Ascent” (:38), “The Blade” (3:37), “To The Cross” (3:41), “Crying In The Night” (3:45), “Hell Train” (4:11), “Endless Night” (4:15), “You & Me” (3:48), “New World Order” (5:01), “Sinner Peace” (4:39), “Hell Blade” (5:23)
Musicians
Josh Kramer - Lead Vocals
Jerry Johnson - Guitars
Richard Lynch - Bass
Bill Brost - Drums
