Reviewed by Ian Webber

Back in the '80s, Pure Metal Records were one of the first white metal labels with Saint being amongst their pioneering roster, releasing two seminal recordings with them. This, the second of the two, has been given the Retroactive re-mastering treatment and has been re-issued for a new generation. For those not familiar with the Saint sound, this Salem, Oregon-based outfit, still active today, play a straight forward brand of hard rock in the style of Judas Priest, matching metal guitars and impressive soloing with Josh Kramer's excellent vocals. The title track and "The Rock" both showcase a vocalist stretching himself to add an edge to some solid melodic riffing and "The Returning", an instrumental track, will please any fan of intricate guitar work. As with many bands of the era, Saint draw on images contained in the book of Revelation as inspiration for their lyrics, creating what was at the time a well produced album. The liner notes from the band's ever present bassist Richard Lynch are a bonus for fans. Those interested in the roots of hard Christian music should investigate this talented group; the only disappointment with this recording is its length. The nine modest tracks come in at around the half hour mark leaving the listener wanting a little more.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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