HOLY SOLDIER - Virtue & Vice (First Listen)

[@LawDogg01]

Love this band.

[@LawDogg01]

Here again

[@LawDogg01]

And again

[@jamestate5059]

Their version of Gimme Shelter blows the Stones away. Been trying forever to get someone to react to that one

[@4themusicman]

Agreed. But I'm biased because I can't stand the Stones.

[@mikenastasi8927]

Love the Rolling Stones and have all of their albums but I totally agree with you.

[@robertlusk8423]

Totally agree!!

[@gordonteats298]

They won I think a Dove award for PROMISE MAN

[@markdermody7370]

Last train great song

[@melkatts]

I lived and breathed their self-titled album back in the day. One thing I like about this song is the brutal honesty. People think that Christians are this holy, look down their nose at others, judgmental types. In reality, we struggle with stuff just like any other person. Sometimes it is virtue and vice; nasty and nice. If you are looking for someone perfect, don't look at me. I will let you down in a heartbeat. The bible talks a lot about denying the flesh and focusing on the good things of God. I'm here to tell you, it's not always easy. I try to learn from my mistakes and be a better person because of it. I'm given the grace and strength through Christ to overcome all the junk in this world if I do what's right and not what is easy. Great song. Great band. Yes, Gimme Shelter is an excellent cover of the Rolling Stones' song.

[@4themusicman]

Agree with every word you just typed. I'll just add, as with most Christian bands, HS was about 2 years (or more) too late. Their debut was killer for 2 reasons. First, because it rocks. And second, because there was much hype in Christian circles about Holy Soldier LONG before they finally released their debut and it did NOT disappoint. I was in college when Last Train was released and I still have fond memories of listening to it. Such a haunting album, IMO. My mother had recently passed in 1992 and she died on a Tuesday morning. So the song Tuesday Mourning has special meaning to me. I listen to Holy Soldier's discography all the time but the title track from Last Train and the whole album in general is a favorite of mine during Autumn.

[@melkatts]

@@4themusicman I know it's been 30 years, but I'm sorry about the loss of your mom. I am blessed to still have my parents. They are both in their 70s and I do not take them for granted. The line in Tuesday's Mouning where Steven sings, "If I could JUST go back in time" gives me goosebumps even now. Another thing that helped make their debut was David Zaffiro as producer. He had come into his own by that time. It's a great sounding album. Hearing him trade lead guitar on Tear Down the Walls was awesome too. I like what he did with Last Train, but it was a darker feel, song wise and production. Promise Man seemed like a different band. I liked it, but I can't compare it to the first two albums. Apples and oranges.

[@wheelzwheela]

The vocals on the first 2 albums are great. The song writing is amazing as well.

[@GordonPyzik]

Impelliteri. Answer to the master. The best album nobody knows about. Voted best 90s hard rock album.

[@garyhanis4104]

Answer To The Master is great! One of my faves is Eye Of The Hurricane.

[@xwormwood]

One of the best christian bands ever.

[@MitchellCoffey-o5w]

Deliverance

[@kevintucker6000]

Great to see you giving time to Holy Soldier. I recommend you check out their song "Stranger."

[@docmiles7]

Was Stryper ever upset to of the bands with the same things going on?... IMO: Nope, although many of the Christian Hard Rock/Metal genre bands in mid 80s' thru late 90s' era are great as such as Stryper if not better, they all started right after Stryper's success and many of these bands never attained the success as Stryper had such as Billboard chart, MTV airplay, much bigger venues, national tv appearances, and much more tour dates(stateside/international). Petra and Stryper pretty much paved the way for these bands then and now. BTW: Stryper is still together, putting out records and touring, and they are in the studio now for their next album to be released this year(2024)... Studio Album #15

[@kevinanderson9864]

Hell yes, about time.

[@gordonteats298]

I have all their CDs

[@rremnar]

A great release from this band. I loved this and their first album. Promise Man, however, was a disapointment. Some people may like some songs on that album, but they went in a very different direction which I didn't like.

[@samkupper]

Holy soldier is great

[@chaynebutler9572]

One by White Cross that you ought to do, from their "Unveiled" album: I Keep Praying.

[@MichaelBuchanan-69]

Not the song I would have gone with. When the Reign Comes Down is a personal favorite of the first album. Steven Patrick (Original singer) is way better. He's still singing here on this song. It was during the tour for this album that he was kicked out of the band. And coming from him directly, he told me that they left him on the side on the road somewhere in Iowa. Take that as you will. I only heard one side of the story. When he was active on social media it wasn't uncommon for Steven to actually call his friends from Facebook. That is how I actually spoke with him for about an hour. Really nice guy. His feeling was if you're going to be friends with me on Facebook we might as well be friends in the real world. Anyways, I loved the first two albums. After than I lost touch with the band. But having listened to the last two albums, to me they are not as good.

[@dpwellman]

I heard the same story from Doug van Pelt. I wasn't sure if it was between the first and second or after the second. If you are still connected, ask him if he remembers being out after the first album and was working at a music store (like guitar center, maybe) thinking pretty much done with being in a band. A kid came in to check out some guitars and played "When The Reign Comes Down" and Mr Patrick thought, 1) that sounds familiar, and 2) i kinda do miss being in a band. I don't remember my source on that.

[@MichaelBuchanan-69]

@@dpwellman Not in touch with him anymore. He's gone back into hiding again. He seemed like a very private person. no idea what was the motivating factor behind him just randomly calling people. I will say we had a very nice conversation and he would answer most of my questions but not all. He did ask a lot of questions about myself. So it wasn't just a one sided talk. Not to sure on the timeline. It could have been during the debut album tour. I think Steven is into country music now as he lives in the Nashville area and does song writing there.

[@kevinanderson9864]

Was a senior in high school when their debut was released

[@4themusicman]

Me as well.

[@thestørmcrier2024]

Gotta listen to Dead End Drive off this same album. It’s a song about DWI

[@ryanwade2you]

Glad you finally got around to this band BUT I could’ve waited awhile longer

[@brianlang6480]

Great band. Love the first two albums, especially the debut. Steven Patrick has some serious pipes. Terry Russell, the drummer, is playing now with Human Code, with George from Deliverance and Mike from Barren Cross.

[@melkatts]

Is this the band that was going to be called M-24?

[@brianlang6480]

@@melkatts I can't answer that one!

[@MitchellCoffey-o5w]

Don't forget massivvided forgiven on the record bright blue lot good songs

[@dpwellman]

Another story about the band is during the defense of Kuwait in Gulf War I, they had fairly decent following, I imagine, and would send merch, especially those Holy Soldier dog tags, to our guys over seas. It was a moderately popular item.

[@ShaneDiablo]

I got your request coming next sunday my friend!

[@westernpanfry]

So raw lol

[@COMICSSOLDIER]

Shane, could you review "Do we just surrender" by Novella? And "Psychedelic Super Jesus" by Bride? Thank you!

[@MissAlthea]

I honestly do not remember I ever heard of these guys back in the day, but this was a decent offering for me and a couple of the guys in the band photo were not too hard on the eyes. I would be interested in checking out more material; especially curious about any videos they may have had.....

[@MichaelBuchanan-69]

Here's a video for See No Evil kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnrTiHqMeriZbbs

[@MichaelBuchanan-69]

Here's one for Last Train kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmaaoatvipd7rqc

[@tim-hill]

They are awesome!

[@balansboy]

Their 1st and 2nd albums were great. This album (Last Train) is in my top 10 albums of any genre.

[@tim-hill]

The first two albums deserved to be released to secular radio. Steven Patricks vocals were what the Christian genre needed. Now he's doing country. What a waste. Great video none the less! Had me rolling yet again! Though there are very good songs on both first 2 albums I find myself listening to the title track on Last Train more than most.

[@4themusicman]

YES!!!! I just said the same thing in another reply. The title track to Last Train for whatever reason might just be my favorite Holy Soldier song. And Steven Patrick's haunting vocals go very well with the song and that whole album.

[@dpwellman]

Its. About. Time. So, I believe they all but disbanded between between their first and second album. Steven Patrick (vocals) was out and one of the guitar players (forget which-- Michael Cutting? ), had also left (or maybe after this album). But I do remember from an interview about trying to get player back in the band was something to the effect that Holy Soldier is a two guitar band so we need two guitarists. All Holy Soldier albums produced by David Zaffiro (formerly of Bloodgood) whom is one of my favorites from the era (His solo work was excellent as well). Really fit well with the band. Patrick would be out for good by _Promise Man_ which would significantly change the dynamic of the sound. Some people liked it some people-- not so much. I am in the latter category. Finally, no. I don't believe have done One Bad Pig. They were a premier Punk Thrash in the 80s. So many good songs. One of the best is thier cover of "Man In Black"... or is it their cover (great story about that track). But for a first listen? "You're a Pagan" would be my pick.

[@4themusicman]

The Pig are great. My favorite of theirs is probably Looney Tune. But I also like Let's Be Frank and Isaiah 6.

[@garyhanis4104]

Have you done Narnia -- The Witch and The Lion?

[@ShaneDiablo]

Gary! Here ya go>> kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6CVZ6GimdOJbKs

[@sebastiancastro4805]

Please listn You Live Fast by Scarlet Red

[@TrevyTrev-andTheFunkyPets]

A Christian SkidRow perhaps? Sounded good. My 1st listen.

[@josephmalone9364]

Their album Encore has both singers with kick a$$ renditions of their songs. It is like Roth and Hager jamming together and singing each other’s VH songs. Check it out

[@DizJakeOG]

Neon Cross, super cool Christian Metal band. Check em out if you get a chance. Underrated.

[@ryant3600]

Man I haven't listened to these guys in years. I had this album when it came out and it was such a great album. I wore the tape out. Their version of Gimme Shelter is great.. Shout was another great Christian band

[@Moparmaga-1]

If I just picked 1 couple second clip..I'd said queensreich

[@olsondc666]

Debut album kicks ass...also check out wicked generation album by sacred warrior...put out a new song a few years later called waiting in darkness...also a banger!

[@mikenastasi8927]

Drops Of Jupiter was by Train

[@LawDogg01]

Holy Soldier was way better than Stryper.

[@konnan]

Yes, gimme shelter is a stones cover, and a very good version. I thought their look at the beginning was pretty cool; it was yellow and black leopard spots instead of stripes like Stryper. I absolutely love the first two albums with Steven Patrick singing. Not a fan whatsoever of the style of music or vocals after he left.

[@mikenastasi8927]

Holy Soldier's cover of Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones is much better.

[@kevinanderson9864]

Neon Cross

[@4themusicman]

(This Is The) Right Time!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jasoneaster3665]

This bands cover of gimme shelter is as good as or better than the original. Check it out.