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After releasing a couple of successful albums in the ' 80s, the Christian metal band Saint disbanded. They eventually reunited and began releasing new material again in 2004. The eighth studio CD from the Oregon based group is Hell Blade.

Saint has a classic metal sound in the vein of groups like Judas Priest, but in addition to plenty of melody inject some darkness and edginess. “To The Cross” is heavy and dense, but the uptempo track also has ample hooks.


“Crying In The Night” is a more accessible and mainstream song with a catchy chorus.

“Hell Train” has a more ominous vibe, and after a lackluster first half kicks up the intensity another notch and showcases some nice guitar work. Josh Kramer is Saint's vocalist, and there is a definite Rob Halford influence in his style. He keeps mainly in the lower the middle vocal range, although he does belt it out from time to time.

After a bit of a lull in the middle, Hell Blade closes in strong fashion. “Sinner Peace” glides along at a medium pace, chock full of memorable riffs. The title track wraps things up, going out in a blaze of fast guitars and apocalyptic lyrics. There are some really strong songs on Hell Blade, with a couple of filler tracks diluting the impact somewhat, but still leaving a lasting impression.

(released January 19, 2010 on Retroactive Records)