Last Train

Description

Last Train is the sophomore album by the American hard rock/metal band Holy Soldier, released on Myrrh Records in January 1992, a division of Word. The album was recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Shoreline, Washington; and at Neverland and Pakaderm Studios in Los Alamitos, California; with David Zaffiro of Bloodgood fame producing. Mixed by Csaba Petocz and Chris Fuhrman (tracks: A1, B1, B3) at Master Control in Burbank, California.

The sophomore release from Myrrh’s metal battalion, Holy Solider, not only steps around the usual artist/producer flamboyance that often follows a critically and commercially successful debut, it beats the odds by re-establishing the band’s group identity in the wake of rumors of major personnel changes. In fact, if anything, where the previous effort proved the band’s studio panache and songwriting craft, ‘Last Train’ is a vibrant witness to the band as a playing, performing unit.

With songwriting skills and David Zaffiro‘s continued hands-on (he’s still writing with the band) production polish intact, ‘Last Train’ emphasizes a more daring, organic approach that focuses on tight combo playing, emotional soloing, and Steven Patrick‘s developing vocal range. And it’s Patrick’s growth as a more emotionally authentic metal vocalist, that best sets apart the 1992 model of Holy Soldier music from its prior effort. ‘Last Train’ rocks with an authoritative swagger, where Holy Solider was more apt to tip-toe.

Lyrically the band has made some shifts as well, from songs primarily focused on an evangelistic response to songs reflecting a Christian perspective on broader issues in life. Not particularly unlike Amy Grant‘s pop successes, or Stryper’s ‘Against the Law‘ for that matter, songs like «Crazy» and «Love is on the Way» declare decidedly romantic intentions.

«Hallow’s Eye» and the title track do speak to the end hope of all believers, but capitalized masculine pronouns aside, Holy Soldier has created a record that should not repulse the mainstream metal fan who might hear the record through Word’s Epic distribution deal. The band’s new found crossover appeal is best heard on the vivacious cover of Stones’ caveat «Gimme Shelter». Surely lines like “Ooh, see the storm is threatening/ My very life today/ If I don’t get some shelter/ Ooh yea, I’m gonna fade away,” feel somewhat different coming from the voice of a believer, but that soulful female gospel voice crying out “Rape! Murder!” leaves the song’s original context intact. This is good thing. The song rocks, and with the openness of classic rock to covers by Black Crowes and Tesla, one might raise the possibility that a single would bring Holy Soldier crossover airplay.

«Tuesday’s Mourning» deals with the sorrow that comes with the death of a loved one, but offers little of the consolation of the Christian faith, and «Fair Weather Friend» merely takes a two-faced interviewer to task. However, Holy Soldier is not about to sell itself short. «Virtue and Vice», the album’s blistering opening track, and «Dead End Drive» challenge the credo of “sex and drugs and rock & roll” by looking at the inevitable outcome of such actions.

The fact that Holy Soldier has made a quiet shift, avoiding the negative publicity of Stryper, should make little impact on the fan of Christian metal into positive jams. In the meantime, Holy Soldier is set up to make an assault on the mainstream, with an album that competes successfully with the best of its kind. Whether that’ll be enough, time will tell. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1992]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/last-train/1166003258)

CD tracklist:

01. Virtue & Vice – 4:30
02. Crazy – 4:44
03. Hallow’s Eve – 4:18
04. Gimme Shelter – 4:23
05. Love Is On The Way – 4:54
06. Dead End Drive – 3:53
07. Tuesday Mourning – 4:23
08. Fairweather Friend – 3:25
09. Last Train – 4:34

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records. A 25th anniversary edition was released by Roxx Records in August 2017, remaster by J Powell at Steinhaus Remastering. Limited to 500 CDs and as well for the first released on 12-inch vinyl LP; a Limited Edition pressing of 150 copies pressed on Red vinyl and 350 pressed on black vinyl.

A full-page advertisement for the up-coming Holy Soldier album Last Train was featured in the January 1992 issue of CCM Magazine.