| Musical Style: Blues Based Hard Rock | Produced By: Ken Roberts |
| Record Label: Victoria Ltd. | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1987 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 8 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 32:48 |
Hard music fans appreciative of metal and hard rock with a blues based edge will find plenty to like about Stevie & The Saints. The group traces to 1987 and its Victoria Ltd. debut full length Metal Blue, which received a favorable review from White Throne magazine editor Dave Johnson, whom (quoting him from issue #3) described it as ‘…the hard rock album of 1987’ and went so far to suggest ‘bands like Bon Jovi and Europe pale in comparison’.1 More specifically: ‘Imagine ZZ Top, but much heavier with Christian lyrics, sung in an earthy voice and great bluesy guitar solos’ with the long and short ‘… great heavy rock played with lots of feeling’.1
With my attention obviously piqued, I promptly obtained a vinyl copy to Metal Blue that remains in my collection to this day. A non-functioning turntable, however, later relegated the album to the backburner- that is until shortly after launching Angelic Warlord in 2006 I received an e-mail from the bands producer Ken Roberts, whom advised Metal Blue was recently re-mastered and reissued on CD. Unduly inspired, I promptly placed an order with the late great and sadly missed online retailer CD Baby and within a week, the CD was in my hands.
I had immediate mixed feelings. On one hand, re-mastering provides a dose of polish to crisp and clean but otherwise unadorned production with an obvious limited budget. Close listen reveals fine details in terms of bass, guitar leads, keyboards and vocals better separating in the mix. On the other, the bare bones CD packaging inclusive to a blank two-page insert lacking liner notes and lyrics leaves somewhat wanting. Since the original vinyl version did not include lyrics - which also cannot be located online - I do not have lyrics to work with for the review.
In revisiting Metal Blue, I hear a synthesis of straightforward hard rock akin to Resurrection Band, F.O.G. and Stonefuze with blues-rock vestiges not unlike Glenn Kaiser Band, Sign Of Jonah and Hard Look. A potential point of reference in terms of compounding both sides of the fence might be The Rex Carroll Band and to a lesser degree early nineties Bride.
Opening cut “We Are The Saints” embodies the groups undaunted fortitude, gutsy in terms of the indelicate disposition - rhythm guitar is bluesy but smarting all the same - but freely flowing in terms of the demonstrative bent, pinpointing the voluminous bass line. It is front man and guitarist Steve Olsen, however, that sets the gravelly tone with his course and rusty vocal delivery.
Instrumental “Saint’s Boogie” ensues. What we have is a fiery four minutes, aptly entitled in terms of the smoldering boogie flair erupting as Olsen leads the way with his melodic guitar harmonizing and soloing of a combusting form. Bassist Ken Kane and drummer John Tinker provide the equally high-strung, low-end underpinning.
Tinker fronts “Code Name: Jesus” with an earnest delivery on the more even and smoother side compared to Olson. Musically, it points to soulful hard rock in which concentrated vocal melodies align with slamming Rez Band style guitars. Incentive resonates of the fortified and melody the unmovable.
Albums lengthiest at six minutes, “One In A Hundred” backs from the preceding metal and hard rock proclivities in favor of high melody driven blues-rock terrain. The opening keyboard solo and prodigious bass line give way to dampened rhythm guitar, a taciturn environment the gist in which female Gospel backing vocals contrast with Olsen’s gravelly croon. Acoustic guitar and Hammond B3 duel instrumentally. This one provides foreshadowing of the traditional blues-rock direction taken on 1990 sophomore effort Eye On The Prize.
Back to heavier territory with “Don’t Knock The Rock”. Song impels to obtrusive guitars, aligning with the unrelenting as unflinching hooks refuse to evacuate and band kicks into a steeled Rez Band like groove. Instrumental moments lay to rest any doubt as it pertains to Olsen’s guitar hero status.
Second six-minute cut “Talkin Bout Love” chugs forward from the start, aligning with the mid-tempo as shuffling rhythm guitar and cameo appearance from the female Gospel choir further energizes the coherent melody to carry the day. The minute and half-instrumental interlude is a bluesy guitar harmony aficionado’s delight. What we have is a potential song of the year candidate.
A hard rocking cover to the classic hymn “Jehovah Jireh” follows. Outside the songs recognizable melody, Stevie & The Saints take it in a different direction with able bodied riffing, boogie flavored low end and ample exuberant energy. Overall, a fun and inspired listen. Note that Deliverance did a thrash based cover to the song on its 1989 self-titled debut.
Closer “Prisoner Of Love” aligns elements of hard rock and the soulful. Yes short at three-mid-paced minutes but also brusque and short-spoken all the same, as the on fire Gospel vocal harmonies return to reassure the compact melody asserts.
Stevie & The Saints debut Metal Blue is the real deal as it pertains to blues based metal and hard rock. Steve Olsen proves exceptional as a gruff front man and fiery blues based guitarist, while bassist Ken Kane and drummer John Tinker provide solid support. The power trio serves to reinforce songwriting that ranges from amazing to very good- not a skip button among the eight tracks. At this point the original vinyl and CD versions not to mention CD reissue are out of print and hard to find collectors items. Best scenario is to hope for a second reissue of not just Metal Blue but also Eye On The Prize with a fresh re-master and better packaging inclusive to lyrics and liner notes.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “We Are The Saints” (3:05), “Saint’s Boogie” (3:55), “Code Name: Jesus” (3:25), “One In A Hundred” (6:06), “Don’t Knock The Rock” (4:03), “Talkin Bout Love” (5:49), “Jehovah Jireh” (3:27), “Prisoner Of Love” (3:00)
Musicians
Steve Olsen - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Ken Kane - Bass Guitar
John Tinker – Drums
Endnotes
1. Dave Johnson, “Metal Blue review,” White Throne 3 (1987): 16.
