SAINT: Immortalizer
The latest release from Saint has landed on our fertile shores and quite a bit of ink has been spilled about Immortalizer. And honestly in my humble opinion it sells this album short.
I read a lot of “Another Saint album.” “It’s really good.” “Lots of chuga chuga which you would expect from Saint.” “Sounds like Christian Judas Priest…” Now while some of those comments have some truth to them it really just sounds like there is nothing special either you like Saint or you don’t…
Honestly, this is one of the BEST 3 or 4 Saint releases without a doubt!. Yes there are ELEMENTS of Judas Priest, Savatage, Accept, Armored Saint, Kamelot… Yet Richard Lynch and company simply throw all these ingredients a huge blender and crank up the CREATIVE JUICES and have released one of the BEST albums of 2024.
Matt Smith and Jerry Johnson have developed into a world class two guitar tandem. Their arrangements of guitar parts add depth and ingenuity to the ‘Saint Sound’ that really is gonna be hard to beat. Whether it’s the riff for album opener “Immortalizer” the melody parts under the verse for “My Cemetery.” The trade off solos during “Pit of Sympathy” or the under verse riffage for “Blood of God.” Comparisons to Tipton/Downing or Smith/Murray are sure places to go.
Perhaps it’s the absolute domination of David Nelson on vocals. He simply delivers the goods like nobody’s business. His range and dynamics, the intro to the aforementioned “My Cemetery” or the climax of “Blood of God.” Completely underrated. Don’t get me started on his lyrical output, like all good art it drives the listener to think and draw their own conclusions, yes there are nudges in the direction he is coming from.
Too often creativity in Christian circles is stifled because we want what’s comfortable and familiar. “Please don’t ask me to engage my brain.” Lyrically this album is a push, while songs like “Repent” or “The Congregation” feel familiar lyrically, pull the ‘ole magnifying glass out and read the lyrics and you’re gonna say … “Hmmm what is he driving at… I think I know but I really should think about it.” Like any good devotional, huh?
And speaking of the songs “Repent” and “The Congregation,” wow. Both have a familiar feel, driving, pounding with killer riffs. “Repent” plows along steadily with a crushing melody and memorable hook. Now “The Congregation” feels the most like 1988 Saint. Dave Nelson delivers a blistering performance condemning works based salvation, a cultic point of view. This one digs it’s hooks in deep and you’ll play it on repeat A LOT. Both tracks benefit from ‘gang like’ back up vocals, Accept anyone? I love it.
Maybe this album is different because it appears to me that the Saint secret weapon has been set free on this one. Jared Knowland. His skill as an engineer, arranger is AMAZING!! Listen to “My Cemetary” the grand piano, screams of Savatage, when the intro builds into a huge sounding riff and I mean HUGE… Nelson comes in which the vocal line of HIS LIFE!! Knowland has produced a monster of an album. Yes they all get credit but honing the sound and performances while pushing it along Jared is the man at the board. It should be noted that Jerry Johnson provides the piano and ‘orchestration’ which adds layers to the sounds once again.
Yet the overall sound that greets the listener here is crisper and fuller. More attack and more definition which brings a ‘brighter’ sound. There is a fuller and ballsier sound which adds to the heaviness and energy.
Listening to “Blood of God” and again the depth of the arrangements, subtlety and power. A lost art of dynamics is brought to life here, padded keys, layers of guitars. Overall an amazing performance.
“Salt in the Wound” is another simply ball busting metal driver of a crusher. Yet it shouldn’t be overlooked, everyone hits on all cylinders. Another Smith and Nelson composition which DEMANDS to be heard. Not just in the background, I mean seriously this is WORLD CLASS material. Not the “Christian Judas Priest,” just cease and desist with that moniker right now.
Throughout Immortalizer the Saint sound is stretched, developed and expanded. Saint is guided by the captain of the ship Richard Lynch. By his own admission he prefers to defer a lot of the creative process to the other members these days.
From what I can determine and hear that was and has been the right decision. Immortalizer blows the previous two Saint records out of the water. No disrespect to those releases. Both Heaven Fell and The Calf are strong contenders in their right, but Immortalizer is that much ahead of them. Everything has come together here, a “classic” is in the offing and not to be neglected.
Forget what you think you know about Saint and grab Immortalizer and dive into one of the FINEST albums of 2024. About that make no mistake.
Essential.
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