Christian music has had its fair share of brilliantly talented musicians who have attempted to measure up to the success of the Christian metal band Stryper. Other bands were less than fortunate to receive label support, be recognized by the mainstream media, and make an impact on the culture. In 1982, bass player Richard Lynch, drummer Gene McClindon, and vocalist Josh Kramer came together to form the Christian rock band Saint. With influences from secular hard rock pioneers Judas Priest and lyrical content based on the book of Revelation, there was more going on with this band than meets the eye. Saint released their first album with Morada Records, entitled Warriors Of The Son in 1984.

The album opens up with "Plan II," a 6 minute worship rock anthem based on the second coming of Christ, "On that white robe day, All will hear the cry and the evil one will die, 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." The album kicks into high gear with the second track "Legions Of The Dead," which comes from Revelation 20:11-15, about the worshipers of the Beast and the dead being judged by the Lord and thrown into the lake of fire, "War and famine is all part of this wicked game, Stones and fire will burn them up in flames, But it all slowly ends, The War is already won, The legions of the dead, Their time has come." Other noteworthy qualities of this album include the title track and "Abyss."

For the most part, Warriors Of The Son is a long 6-track demo with low production values that would be bombed by the average Christian rock band. The guitar work and vocal delivery are good and very solid, however the musicians had an extremely limited budget to create this album. It's hard not to be picky, but it is easy to spot a few mistakes made on "Legions Of The Dead," particularly during the opening and the chorus, by guitarist John Mahon. Richard's bass guitar is difficult to hear on the tracks "Plan II," "Abyss" and "Time's Wasting." Gene McClindon's drumming abilities are not noteworthy and it feels like he could have added a lot more to this album particularly on "Legions of The Dead" and "Warriors Of The Son."

In the midst of it all, the listener will get the feeling that six songs are just not enough and demand more from Saint. Warriors Of The Son is not a masterpiece, but rather a solid rock album showcasing the early stages of a good heavy metal band with their hearts in the right place. Despite the low budget production values, Saint put together some great tunes and the title track deserves to be up there with other great Christian metal anthems of the 1980's. Fans of Judas Priest, Stryper, Petra and Whitecross will enjoy listening to Saint more than anyone else in the crowd. If you are not a fan of 80's heavy metal, it is recommended to stay clear from the Warriors Of The Son.

- Review date: 4/9/09, written by Fred Keel