Musical Style: Classic Metal	Produced By: Richard Lynch & David Lohr
Record Label: Pure Metal / Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 1988 / 2020	Artist Website: Saint
Tracks: 9	Rating: 90%
Running Time: 31:53

Arguably the better of the first three Saint albums, the 1988 Pure Metal Records released Too Late For Living stands apart for a lot of reasons, but mostly from featuring what in my opinion is the group’s most talented lineup with holdovers bassist Richard Lynch and vocalist Josh Kramer joined by newcomers guitarist Dee Harrington and drummer John Perrine.  Near perfect production also plays a role, particularly when factoring the steps and strides made over 1986 predecessor Time’s End, a fine sounding album in its own right.  Musically, it would not be out of line to suggest that if Too Late For Living does not contain the best selection of songs on an eighties era Saint album, it at the very least is the equal to Time’s End, which is saying a great deal. 

Side note: It is no coincidence that second Saint turn of the century comeback album The Mark from 2006 (later re-mastered and re-issued on Retroactive Records in 2011 under the new title The Revelation) is my favorite Saint album from featuring the same lineup (sans Perrine).

Maintained on Too Late For Living is the Saint traditional to classic metal penchant it established on Time’s End and 1984 debut EP Warriors Of The Son.  Similar to its predecessors, Too Late For Living also finds Saint diversifying by extending outside its straightforward heavy metal boundaries and exploring speed metal and even melodic heavy metal (with some ballad based moments) territory.  What I said in my 85% Time’s End review holds true as it pertains to Too Late For Living in that regardless of designation, one cannot suggest that throughout its five-decade career - noting the groups seven post turn of the century comeback albums - Saint does not delivery class leading performance.

An out of print and hard to find collectors item, Too Late For Living was re-issued in 2011 by Retroactive Records in the digi-pak format after having been re-mastered by J. Powell at Steinhaus.  A second re-issue from the spring of 2020 also attributes to Retroactive as a Gold Disc Edition CD but with re-mastering by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound.  Detailed jewel case mini booklet to include lyrics in an easy to read font, montage of vintage band photos and write up from Lynch attributes to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics. 

It is potentially problematic commending on re-mastering in light of how the Too Late For Living production was already very good to begin with.  That said, it would be sufficient to suggest an already quality product improves from bringing volume levels up to modern standards and better enhancing background details to create the cleaner sound overall.  When placed alongside, it is difficult to tell the two versions apart with the exception that Steinhaus is slightly louder than Colwell- an observation and not a critique in that both sound great! 

Albums opening title track impresses as an unwavering mid-tempo slugger, jump-starting at once to plainspoken energy in prompted its span by forthright rhythm guitar and Lynch’s unwavering bass presence.  Kramer stretches in lending his soaring Halford-like vocal delivery to a song written from the standpoint of someone who lost their life and looks back in regret:

Too late for living
Suddenly life is gone
I drove the center line
Acting like I knew it all
And I wound up in a faster lane
Heading for my fall
Well I see the Light but it's too late
For me, I'm gone
Too late for living…

Those as noted speed metal signature manifest on “Star Pilot”.  Song hearkens back to Time’s End tracks “Space Cruiser” and “Phantom Of The Galaxy” with its remorseless tempo, playing up Perrine’s hyper athletic drumming (in my opinion the best ever Saint timekeeper) alongside blinding riff action and hooks of an understated quality.  Lyrics combine aspects of spiritual warfare and science fiction imagery:

Plot a course into battle
Ignition thrusters igniting done
Blasting with proton power
It seems we've won but they're not gone

Why am I fighting a battle that's been won?

Red alert star craft approaching
Everybody put on your gear
Once again into battle
Out to space no reason to fear

Our Lord protect us we know that He is here

“Accuser” is albums only track in which I identify as ‘OK’.  Taking a dire, up-tempo metal form, it is not given opportunity to define itself from coming in at an all too brief two minutes (double its length and I see it making a more substantial statement in that musically it is otherwise not bad).  Of note is Harrington’s blinding lead guitar.

“The Rock” embodies a consummate joining of heaviness and melody.  The sledgehammer riffs to start foreshadow the brusque inclining to leverage the songs remaining distance (noting the former), while an emotional vocal edge allies with a distinct sense of accessibility (latter).  Top Time’s End cuts “Island Prisoner” and “Primed & Ready” come to mind.  “The Rock” reinforces where our focus should be:

Many come and many stray
Lose their faith they walk away
Turn their back on what they know
What is left where can they go

We are called to stand tall
Eyes upon the One who's love redeems us all
Eyes upon the Rock

Now's the time come one and all
In the light you can not fall
Saving grace is here for you
Ask who've sinned he wants you too

“On The Street” picks up where “The Rock” leaves off but with added guitar driven fortitude.  The song grasps a rumbling mentality found in its darker signatures, low-end hints of a portent quality, but stresses equally parts up-tempo, pinpointing the layered vocal melodies adorning its surging refrain.  Best part is how at the end the signature statement is delivered: ‘Jesus is the way for you, that’s right!’

Ensuing three songs “Returning”, “The Path” and “Through The Sky” comprise an awesome suite based around the Book of Revelation:

“Returning” is an instrumental guitar aficionado delight.  The song, as one might imagine, allows Harrington to stand out with his deft abilities - blazing, fluid and at times poignant (there is a reason why he is my favorite Saint guitarists) - while also playing up technical drum undercurrents (an almost power metal feel ala Sacred Warrior prevails).  The final seconds descend to an acoustic guitar played over narration from Revelation 6:6.

“The Path” cuts in at once, disquiet with its perilous guitar tones as vocals lend a threatening lower register bent, but also singular in terms of the inauspicious melody to convey the contrastingly affable.  What I hear is a touch of relentless energy hearkening back to 2010’s outstanding Hell Blade.

“Through The Sky” ranks with my top Saint cuts ever.  It starts to an explosion followed by a near speed metal riff, launching in high intensity fashion to perforating rhythm guitars and relentless double bass (production is perfect in highlighting the crucial backing details).  Harrington’s solo is one for the ages.  Second coming is the subject at hand:

Soon the world will see God's face
Raging through the sky
His fiery eyes will find you
So make a choice to live or die

Let me tell you this my friend
The truth is to be known
Vengeance, death or victory
The choice is yours, yours all your own
Like the devil seeks his thrill
To quench his thirst to be fulfilled
The prince of death will pay, listen to me

“The War Is Over” closes the album in the form of a metal semi-ballad (sort of like “Alpha Omega” from The Mark/The Revelation).  Momentum fittingly tempers as does an element of guitar based momentum, albeit retained is much of the trademark Saint crunch, while emotional melody soars, noting Kramer’s smoother vocal direction.  “The War Is Over” proves aptly entitled:

You rescued me from the serpent's coil
And all the traps that ensnared my mind
The war is over you won it a long time ago
The truth is sometimes bitter sweet
It's hard to take where it hurts the most
But Lord you're great, the power hits deep down inside

The prince of shadows has lost his hold
His tactics fail, as they unfold
Yet fighting continues in vain until the end
So let battle commence I'm armed for war
You've trained me for the fields of doom
Where many before me fought and many died

Too Late For Living adds up to a great album with a great message.  In terms of musical aptitude, I rate it alongside Time’s End but where it separates is production to help make it the better of thee three eighties Saint releases.  When further factoring the presence of talented newcomers guitarist Dee Harrington and timekeeper John Perrine, it adds up to in my opinion is the strongest Saint roster.  Lone constructive comment is that in a bit short at just 32 minutes, Too Late For Living could use an extra song or two.  All things considered, make the Gold Disc Edition Retroactive re-issue a priority purchased from improvements in terms of re-mastering and packaging (be sure to pick up the Gold Disc Edition Time’s End re-issue while at it!).

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Too Late For Living” (3:54), “Star Pilot” (3:24), “Accuser” (1:59), “The Rock” (2:48), “On The Street” (3:36), “Returning” (4:41), “The Path” (3:38), “Through The Sky” (3:53), “The War Is Over” (3:58)

Musicians
Josh Kramer - Lead Vocals
Dee Harrington – Guitars
Richard Lynch – Bass
John Perrine - Drums