| Musical Style: Classic Metal | Produced By: Richard Lynch |
| Record Label: Armor | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2004 | Artist Website: Saint |
| Tracks: 8 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 30:00 |
My experience with Saint dates back to 1985 when I saw them open for Stryper at a high school in the Portland, Oregon area. One of my main recollections from the concert, if you can actually believer it, was to find the band still in the middle of its sound check when the doors to the auditorium where opened to admit the audience. Saint, at this period in its history, included the classic line up of vocalist Josh Kramer, bassist Richard Lynch and guitarist John Mahan, the band performing an energetic set made up mostly of material from its six song 1984 debut EP Warriors OF The Son. As a matter of fact, I still own the original Rotton Records vinyl version of the album I purchased while attending the concert. Eventually picked up by Morada Records and released with different artwork, Warriors Of The Son did not make it onto CD until 2001 when it was re-issued by M8 Records. Despite the passage of nearly twenty years, however, Saint has returned to the studio and re-recorded Warriors Of The Son in its entirety. Included are two never before released tracks in "Killers And The Destroyers" and "The Reaper" that were originally written for the album but due to budget constraints could not be completed.
The guitar team of Jerry Johnson and Dee Harrington capably fill the shoes of John Mahan who handled all guitar duties on the original version of Warriors Of The Son. Johnson performed on Saint's other 2004 release In The Battle and Harrington the 1988 effort Too Late For Living and the 1999 EP The Perfect Life. (This is the first time Saint has been a two guitar team since it headlined the His II festival in 1988 with both Harrington and Mahan.) Founding member bassist Richard Lynch and drummer Tim Lamberson comprise a formidable rhythm section. While vocalist Josh Kramer puts in an all around solid performance, he does not quite capture the same high level of passion and energy characteristic of his work on the original.
The first version of Warriors Of The Son, recorded on 8 tracks and using mid-eighties technology, can sound a bit rough around the edges production wise with rhythm guitar tones on the harsh side and a slight muddiness to its low end. However, in taking advantage of advances in technology not available in 1984, the production values to Warriors Of The Son: 20th Anniversary Edition are much higher reflected in crisper sonics allowing for just the right amount of polish. The bass comes across in the heavier and more pronounced sounding manner, while the drums receive the cleaner mix. The rhythm guitar - edgy and placed upfront in the mix - is produced to near perfection.
Please note that the album features an entirely new cover; however, the track listing on the back of the CD jewel case fails to include the song "Plan 2". The packaging is otherwise without flaw.
Introduced to a pounding riff that transitions to a crunchy rhythm guitar, album opener "Plan 2" slowly progresses until it culminates for a sweeping chorus with a worshipful message:
Let's give glory to the King
He conquered death and hell to set His children free
Let's give glory to the King
He cleansed us from our sins
He tasted death for all to see
A minute and a half of fiery lead guitar work helps place "Plan 2" among the albums stronger tracks.
The moment "Plan 2" ends "Legions Of The Dead" immediately kicks in to a heavy duty riff that carries it forward with a ton of upbeat energy. As the song slows to a near standstill for its chorus, it is backed by one of the heaviest doom-like riffs this reviewer has heard. Harrington follows with thirty seconds of fast fingered lead guitar work. Saint has traditionally displayed a penchant for addressing end times themes in its lyrics and "Legions Of The Dead" proves no exception:
They dared to bow down and worship the beast
He tells them when it's done, We're gonna have a big feast
But what they don't know, So much to their surprise
They're the ones for dinner
With the beast and all his lies
After an aggressively delivered combination of rhythm and lead guitar initiates "Abyss", a ton of all out raw energy impels it through its first verse hard and heavy. The resounding chorus that follows starts out in a fast paced manner only to pause near its end as Josh delivers a line for all the ages, "Welcome to abyss, I hope you have fun." Johnson and Harrington combine for nearly a minute of exciting dual lead guitar work. "Abyss" exposes the lies of the evil one.
Look for the masquerader; look for the one who lied
He's dressed like Dr. Jekyll, but he's really Mr. Hyde
He wants to deceive you, he wants to drag you down besides
There is another choice and by His strength the dragon dies
Opening to a drum solo, a muscular combination of rhythm guitar and bass drives "Warriors Of The Son" ahead in a powerful fashion until it reaches an anthem-like chorus touching upon the issue of spiritual warfare:
They are the warriors of the Son of the King of the light
Arise with thee unto thy might
Warriors of the Son of the King of the light
They died with thee, they live to fight
Subsequent to catchy vocal harmonies accentuating the song during its bridge, it breaks for fifty seconds of blazing lead guitar work that transitions to a hammering riff.
"Vicars Of Fate" begins to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar before a prodigious bass line puts in place the unwavering foundation for the albums strongest track. The song resonates a superb melody as it advances at a near mesmerizing mid-tempo pace, only pausing prior to moving on to a chorus with a catchy refuse to go away hook. "Vicars Of Fate" addresses the issue of false prophets:
Life is aborted, truth is distorted, there's rampant heresy
Priest in their anger, rulers of danger, telling their lies continuously
All the killing, all the pain
Dark age prophets, they still remain
Advancing in a straightforward hard rock direction, "Time's Wasting" slowly moves forward until it gains momentum for a chorus driven in a gritty manner by an upfront mix of rhythm guitar. Johnson contributes a nice aggressive guitar solo to a song pointing to the person of Christ:
Christ remains in waiting, Christ has paid the toll
He dies for you, He broke the chains, opened the prison doors
Why do you choose to run from Him?
There's nowhere else to go
A sinless Priest, the awesome King, I think you probably know
"Killers And The Destroyers" stands out as the more noteworthy of the two new tracks. Taking off fast and aggressive, a crunchy riff immediately propels the song to an energy-laden chorus delivered at an upbeat tempo. Harrington proves he has not lost his touch by adding fifty seconds of blistering lead guitar work. Josh, of course, ends the song by cutting loose with one of his trademark screams.
Please note that "Killers And The Destroyers" turned into "Destroyers" (from Time's End) after John Mahan rewrote its lyrics and changed the drum beat.
"The Reaper" proceeds at a slower pace when compared to "Killers And The Destroyers". A drum solo opens the song before a choppy rhythm guitar takes it strong and steady to a brief but hard hitting chorus. After Josh nails another one of his ear piercing scream, Johnson follows with a terrific thirty second guitar solo.
The stronger production values to Warriors Of The Son: The 20th Anniversary Edition breathes new life into material that previously had bordered on the overbearing due to the unrefined feel to the sonics of the original. As a result, this is the first time in twenty years I have listened to the album on a consistent basis and find its material very comparable to the bands follow up efforts Time's End and Too Late For Living.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Plan II" (5:35), "Legions Of The Dead" (3:39), "Abyss" (3:52), "Warriors Of The Son" (3:36), "Vicars Of Fate" (3:45), "Time’s Wasting" (4:06), "Killers And The Destroyers" (2:31), "The Reaper" (2:51)
Musicians
Josh Kramer – Lead Vocals
Dee Harrington – Guitars
Jerry Johnson – Guitars
Richard Lynch – Bass
Tim Lamberson - Drums
Also Reviewed: Saint - Time's End, Saint - In The Battle, Saint - Live 05, Saint - The Mark, Saint - Crime Scene Earth
