| Musical Style: Classic Metal | Produced By: Jared Knowland |
| Record Label: Armor / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2012 / 2022 | Artist Website: Saint |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 42:59 |
It isn’t a matter of the Angelic Warlord editorial staff not being into the whole stone shot from a sling into the forehead of the Philistine thing. But what makes Desperate Night, the seventh full length album from Salem, Oregon based Saint, such a Goliath beater lies in its ability to appease those into the traditional metal of the groups past while also attracting the crowd interested in something on the more accessible side of things.
Released in the summer of 2012, Desperate Night follows on the heels of Saints’ classic eighties material - including Time’s End (1986) and Too Late For Living (1988) - and its post turn of the century comeback work: In The Battle (2004), The Mark (2006), Crime Scene Earth (2008) and HellBlade (2010).
Now, do not be concerned about the ‘accessible’ reference in that by no means is Saint ‘mellowing out’. Rather, Desperate Night finds the groups upholding its penchant for abject heaviness but within an engaging melody and hook based framework. In other words, Desperate Night leaves impression as the next logical musical step for Saint subsequent to predecessor HellBlade, which traversed similar heavy but catchy musical territory, albeit with a darker vestige.
Essential pieces such as “Judgement” (raw power in its purest form), “The Key” (as assertive a bruiser as you will find) and “In The Fray” (with its seething mentality) dominate with their brash guitar walls and hooks to spare. Maintaining the aggressive but engaging qualities is the un-abating energy to “Inside Out” and near speed metal romp of “Escape From The Fire”.
On the more melodic side of things are “Crucified” and “Let It Rock”, choice examples of up-tempo metal to see catchy melodies prevail. “Desperate Night” and “End Of The World” maintain the melodic sensibilities but with the more dramatic and sublime aura, while “To Live Forever” is classic eighties metal all the way. Please note that “To Live Forever” was slated as the title track to Saint’s fourth album to be recorded in follow up to Too Late For Living. When that fell through, the group resurrected the song for its 1999 EP The Perfect Life.
In other trivia, Saint went the ‘vocalist by committee’ route on Desperate Night. Returning is long-term vocalist Josh Kramer with his Halford-like vocal presence (eight songs) and bassist Richard Lynch with a gruffer, lower register vibe (two others). Newcomer Brian Phyll Miller, who would supplant Kramer on 2014 follow up effort Broad Is The Gate, handles the remaining track with a soaring, classic tenor style.
Also similar to HellBade, Desperate Night features strong production values, which further improve from the re-mastering (courtesy of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) to the January 2022 Retroactive Records re-issue. When listened to alongside the original, I hear a more clear cut sound to the re-issue with an element of polish cancelling any previous murkiness, with gist cleaner background details (such as the symbols opening “In The Fray”) and better balanced vocal mix. In particular, guitar leads come across that much cleaner and bass with a thicker and more elevated vibe.
Another advantage to the re-issue is improved jewel case packaging (noting digi-pak to the original) to include a foil stamped trading card and colorful mini booklet (layout and design by Scott Waters at No Life Til Metal) home to lyrics and liner notes in an easy to read font. Of particular note is correction to any previous misspellings, such as “Crucified” now being spelled with a ‘c’ as opposed to an ‘s’.
Track By Track
Opener “Crucified” hits hard and fast from the get go, three minutes of melodic traditional metal highlighted by bludgeoning riffs and inspired as it gets chorus:
Was crucified for all to see
Was crucified for you and me
(Now crowned and on the judgment seat)
Staunch but accessible at the same time, the song brings to mind the Saint classic “In The Night” (off Time’s End). “Crucified” is aptly named:
He said “go teach the world
Of all that you have seen”
And to the end I reached for more
A vow to die like Him
No cock would crow again
And on a stake turned upside down
I was crowned
“The Key” stands out with its bruising riff action- bristling, nasty, upfront and in your face. The song, otherwise, proves up-tempo with its subtle catchiness and gruffer vocal qualities to Richard Lynch. A churning low end and incessant momentum add to the unbending scene.
Starting to a short drum solo, “End Of The World” decelerates to a contentious mid-paced slugfest as chugging guitars, Kramer’s low-register vocals and an extended stretch of razor-edged soloing strive for supremacy. In other words, classic Saint all the way! The understated irony to the song title and lyrics bring to mind the Time’s End track “Destroyers Of The World”:
You’re calling judgment day
Oh heretic you say
He’s coming through the sky
No one knows where, when or why
It’s only the end of the world
The creatures and the Earth
Are groaning to the throne
All call to judge us all
Like nothing ever known
“Let It Rock” represents a return to a faster and more upbeat direction. With walls of guitars carrying things front to back, the song plays up what amounts a non-stop energy blast of heavy set riff laden metal. The commanding backing vocals of Lynch add an aggressive touch.
“In The Fray” allows Saint to showcase its musicianship, with Jared Knowland shining with his technical timekeeping skills and Johnson providing another over the top adept stretch of soloing. Musically, the song maintains the Saint trademark angst based mentality in joining underlining guitar driven angst with plenty of fury and emotion.
The “political” metal of “Inside Out” (the song includes narration from then President Obama) features some harshly done backing vocals (for its forcefully done chorus) while placing an accompanying audience track in the backdrop. Things take a more mid-paced heading while still allowing for the albums overriding energy. Again, a political statement is made here:
We’ve seen the TV headlines
We’ve seen the outcome score
We’ve seen it all now
And I can’t take no more
Agendas contemplating
They’re knocking at the door
And like the song it goes
They’ll tax us till there’s rich no more
The albums title track ranks with the albums best. The song services to showcase new vocalist Brian Miller, who complements what amounts a dramatic essence with his soaring vocal style. A more melodic direction is taken as well, with the accessibility to the chorus contrasting with some darker and more lower-key aspects to the low-end. Second Coming is the subject at hand:
Long ago I heard the story
Of the day that waits in time
Untold stories on Earth were left behind
Like a thief at night, in the shadows wake
There was a sound, a flash in the night
Two gone before me
The terror starts today
Desperate
Desperate night
“Zombie Shuffle”, the albums shortest at 2:40, is the lone Josh Kramer penned contribution. I have always seen it as more of an experiments track that works better in a video format (Kramer put together a very well done video to the song) as opposed to casual listening. Not that it is bad musically - by far the contrary - it is just a bit offbeat with some discordant elements merging with guitar tones that almost have a thrash feel to them (at least that is what my ears are hearing).
“Judgement” represents another top of the line piece. Unadulterated power in the rawest form, the song ranks with the heaviest of the heavies as Johnson’s brawny riffs stand alongside nothing less than a pulse pounding rhythm section. But it is not all angst in that quite the catchy hook prevails as well. Lyrically, “Judgement” is aptly entitled:
Chosen before time
To show the way
Seeking God at night
To crush the day
Finding faith
Finding sight
The end game is in play
Come Lord Jesus, mercy
Purge the earth
“To Live Forever” is classic melodic metal all the way. Guitars might be toned down a bit - at least in comparison to some here - but that does not diminish the quality, as reflected in the strength to the songs chorus and lush guitar melodies and harmonies throughout.
Lynch returns on lead vocals on “Escape From The Fire”, a non-stop front to back barnburner that almost approaches speed metal territory. Yes, impetus is explosive and mercurial but hooks are not forsaken in the process: check out the underlining catchy elements to the harshly delivered chorus. Lynch’s caustic vocal approach fits the aggressive tone at hand. Lyrics focus on End Times themes:
Enemy below we rip through the sky
Pounding the earth with a judgment day cry
Witness the power from heaven up above
Gallant white horses and those who I love
Crushing the dragon a blow to his head
Stomped through the wine press now he is dead
All of his glory and all his desires
Judgment upon him thrown in the fire
Desperate Night equates to high-energy heavy metal with catchy hooks in abundance. There is a lot to like about the album for those into all eras of the groups history, whether it be the classic eighties material or its turn of the century comeback efforts. Again, as noted Desperate Night does trend towards the accessible but in a positive sense in staying true to the groups classic metal founding. I also appreciate the three-way vocal approach plays up the strength to the music, as does the every present solid Saint musicianship. If you missed the original release back in the day or interested in an upgraded version, make the Retroactive re-issue to Desperate Night a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Crucible” (1:13), “Crucified” (3:17), “The Key” (3:35), “End Of The World” (4:12), “Let It Rock” (3:02), “In The Fray” (3:22), “Inside Out” (4:19), “Desperate Night” (4:23), “Zombie Shuffle” (2:40), “Judgement” (4:22), “To Live Forever” (4:40), “Escape From The Fire” (3:19), “The Crucible (Reprise)” (:28)
Musicians
Josh Kramer - Lead Vocals
Brian Phyll Miller - Lead Vocals
Jerry Johnson - Guitars
Richard Lynch - Bass & Lead Vocals
Jared Knowland - Drums
