Holy Soldier "Promise Man"

Holy Soldier

Promise Man

1995 ForeFront

Produced By: David Zaffiro

album cover

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album back

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Track Listings

Promise Man

Mumbo Jumbo

My World

Rust

Why Don't You Look Into Jesus

Break it Down

Cover Me

Grind

Love Conquers All

Sand

Musicians

Eric Wayne: Vocals

Michael Cutting: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Vocals

Andy Robbins: Bass

Scott Soderstrom: Electric & Acoustic Guitars

Holy Soldier is one of those underrated 90's Christian bands in my opinion. They burst onto the scene with their self titled album in 1990 and followed it up with the awesome Last Train in 1992. Then it was radio silence it seemed. We wouldn't hear from the band again until 1995's Promise Man. If you were hoping for more high energy, in your face metal like from the previous two albums then you may be disappointed. I don't mean that in a bad way, but Promise Man is a big departure from their previous sound. 

Now signed to ForeFront, they feature a new lead vocalist. Eric Wayne took over the vocal duties after Steven Patrick left to pursue a solo career. With the change, the who sound of the band seem to "evolve" with the time. Metal was on it's way out, quickly being replaced with that Seattle grunge sound. In order to stay relevant, I guess the band or the label thought they should change with the times? I really don't know the back story, but Promise Man is the start of what I like to call Holy Soldier 2.0.

I remember when I first heard this album during my senior year of High School and I thought, "wow"...is this even the same band? I wasn't sure at first if I liked this new sound, but being that I listed to a lot of music in the mid to late 90's I ended up playing this album quite a bit. With each consecutive listen the songs began to grow on me. The opening title track features a great bass line before you get Eric Wayne's booming, soulful deep vocals. The band helped write all the songs together, but the liner notes also give credit to Michael Anderson for his help on Promise Man. I'm not sure what his contribution exactly was, but I can "hear" his talent in this almost bluesy sounding song.

In 1995 Holy Soldier's new label, ForeFront, would release a tribute album, One Way, of the Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman. Holy Soldier contributed to the album with their rendition of Larry's song Why Don' You Look Into Jesus. This same song would also find it's way onto Promise Man. I can't say that at that time I was all that familiar with Larry Norman's catalogue, including this song, but it has become one of my favorites. Because I heard Holy Soldier's version before the original, I prefer their version, but regardless of who recorded the song it's a great song.

There are several songs that remain favorites of mine to this day, including Cover Me, Grind & Sand. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Love Conquers All, the album's one ballad. The message is fine, I just don't care for the sound of the song...just seems out of place on the album.

While Promise Man may not be one of my all time favorite albums (from the band or just in general), it is fun to re-visit it from time to time. I believe this album did fairly well in the Christian music community, evening winning a Dove Award for  the title track, but would ultimately be a "one and done" with ForeFront. One additional album would be released after this, Encore, on Spaceport Records. This isn't a hard album to find physically if you're looking to add it to your library.

Revisiting Some Pro-Life Songs

Psalms 139: 13-16

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

When I was in the 10th grade I worked on a Pro-Life project for my English class. While I don't remember all the ins and outs of the project itself, I do remember using several songs and their lyrics to help me take a stand. I recall evening playing one of the songs in class, handing out the lyrics to everyone to follow along as they listened.

Now you may be asking why am I bringing this up? Well with the recent news of abortions being allowed in Virginia and New York, its really had me riled up and angry. With abortion being in the headlines again the songs of my youth came rushing back to me. I thought since this is a music blog after all, why not share these songs and lyrics? I know some may find it odd for a male to feel so passionate about abortion, but it's something that for some reason God laid on my heart a long time ago. Just because our society may deem abortion more "appropriate" these days, to me it's still murder. I know this is a controversial topic, even in Christian circles, however I feel the need to defend those who don't have a voice and these songs helped me share my faith and my position on this topic as a young adult.

A lot of these songs are by rock bands, so while the style of music may not be your cup of tea, I do encourage you to at least read the song lyrics if nothing else. These songs are listed in no particular order by the way.

BARREN CROSS "Killers of the Unborn"

Lay her down, commence to drill | A primo murder, the legal kill | I am a child about to die | My mother does not hear my cry, no

Killers of the unborn, killers | Killers of the unborn, stop the killing

Injection starts to work its way | I don't feel love, I just feel pain | I'm getting weaker, my poison blood | And death surrounds me like a flood

The operation is over | I'm now in pieces in a garbage bag | Guilt will now take over | 

'Cause where is the relief you thought you had | 

The shame and tears she bears | 

The scar of guilt she is going to wear | 

But he can forgive her | 

If she gives her life to the savior | 

No, no, they're gonna kill me | 

I don't want to die, just let me be | 

No, no, I feel the pain | 

I feel, I feel the pain, no

GALACTIC COWBOYS "If I Were a Killer"

This is just a hypothetical story | Of someone, let's just say it's me | I'd gain acceptance for my murderous ways | By stalking a defenseless prey

If I were a killer | I'd smile just like the boy next door | If I were a killer | I'd say I do it for the poor | If I were a killer | You'd bring me victims more and more | If I were a killer

Supreme Court would agree to hear my case | And find me innocent of crime | Holding public rallies to incite sympathy | Creative actuality

If I were a killer | I'd smile just like the boy next door | If I were a killer | I'd say I do it for the poor | If I were a killer | You'd bring me victims more and more | If I were a killer

If I were a killer | I'd smile just like the boy next door | If I were a killer | I'd say I do it for the poor | If I were a killer | You'd bring me victims more and more | If I were a killer | I'd hide behind a doctor's door | If I were a killer | I'd scrape you off my office floor | If I were a killer

Killer

KING'S X "Legal Kill"

I only know what I believe | The rest seems so absurd to me | I close my eyes so I can't see | But the picture just gets clearer everyday | I read somewhere to learn is to remember | And I've learned we all forgot |There was peace in her before | But that was yesterday | But I can see the beauty that is here for me | The chance to live and walk free | From a legal kill

I know your side so very well | It makes no sense that I can tell | The smell of hell is what I smell | And you hand it out with handshakes everyday | I have trouble with the persons, with the signs | But I feel the need to make my own | Yes there's two ways to be | And truth does not depend on me | But I can feel the fight for life is always real | I can't believe it's no big deal | It's a legal kill

I can feel the fight for life is always real | And I can't believe it's no big deal | It's a legal kill | And I can see the beauty that is here for me | The chance to live and walk free | From a legal kill

DC Talk "Children Can Live (Without It)"

I don't want another country | I want ta recognize intent | Of our forefathers when they wrote | Precisely what they meant | Taken on the form of Christian | But the power is denied | In God we trust only when we lust | For the apple of our eye | One nation under God | With morals out of proportion | An end result is murder | Under legalized abortion 

Children can live without it | Who's gonna take it away? | Children can live without it | Maybe we'll learn someday | Oh, that we'll learn, I pray 

A miracle of God | Now looked on as a choice | It's time for all His children | To unify a voice | With influence in our numbers | And power in out prayer | We must defend the children | And fight for what is fair | What appears to be an upset | Can change its ugly course | And we can do it all | Through Jesus Christ our Lord

Children can live without it | Who's gonna take it away? | Children can live without it | Maybe we'll learn someday | Oh, that we'll learn, I pray 

O, they can fight, but they cannot win | They can scream, but none will hear them | Don't ya know that our conscience will die | If we take away the freedom to survive? 

Children can live without it | Who's gonna take it away? | Children can live without it | Maybe we'll learn someday | Oh, that we'll learn, I prayChildren can live without it | Who's gonna take it away? | Children can live without it | Maybe we'll learn someday | Oh, that we'll learn, I pray
Children can live without it | Who's gonna take it away? | Children can live without it | Maybe we'll learn someday | Oh, that we'll learn, I pray

GRAMMATRAIN "Execution"

Watch while I'm burned in salt | Tell me now where's my fault | I'm torn in two, you pull me through | Oh ignore my shout now scrape me out

Oh nation murders me, me, me

Suck me down your hose | Pieces of my fingers and toes | Use me to brew your lab rat stew | Oh dissolve my voice for your woman's choice

My execution, it's your revolution

Spill my blood on "civil" hands | And I pay to make you free

Oh, nation murders me | Yeah, with politicians dreams | Now silencing my screams, screams, screams

My execution, it's your revolution

HOLY SOLDIER "See No Evil"

I float inside her womb | Oh mother, I am coming soon | Suddenly, fear and dread | When mother says she wants me dead

Oh how can you do this to me?

Thousands come | Please don't kill me | Thousands go | I want to live | Day by day | Can anyone hear me | The numbers grow |I want to live

God hears them cry | We hear the lie | And we simply look the other way

See no evil | Hear no evil | Speak no evil

From a pail with open eyes | I see the man that I despise | He looks at me and turns his back | As my life fades, it fades to black | And there's no turning back

Thousands come | Please don't kill me | Thousands go | I want to live | Day by day | Can anyone hear me? | The numbers grow | I want to live

God hears them cry | We hear the lie | And we simply look the other way

See no evil | Hear no evil | Speak no evil

Mommy, mommy, I'm afraid

Holy Soldier "Holy Soldier"

Holy Soldier

Holy Soldier

1990 A&M Records / Myrrh Records

Produced By: David Zaffiro

album cover

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disc (promotional)

Track Listings

Stranger (3:25)

See No Evil (5:29)

The Pain Inside of Me (6:36)

Cry Out For Love (3:29)

Tear Down the Walls (3:58)

When the Reign Comes Down (5:18)

Lies (4:57)

Eyes of Innocence (3:55)

Love Me (4:16)

We Are Young, We Are Strong (5:11)

Band Members

Steven Patrick: Lead vocals

Jamie Cramer: Guitars

Terry Russell: Drums

Michael Cutting: Guitars

Andy Robbins: Bass

From what I can remember, my real exposure to Holy Soldier came from an old Christian music video program on the INSP network called Signal Exchange hosted by Corey Edwards. The video was for See No Evil. I was instantly hooked. I loved the slick, polished metal sound. However by the time I saw the video and became a fan, their first album wasn't the easiest to find. I had to "settle" with their follow album, Last Train. 

Eventually I found their self titled album on cassette at a used record store. Being that they first had signed with A&M Records it was easier to find their music. I can't say enough positive things about this album. Steven Patrick has a great voice and it's perfectly suited for this style of music. At times his voice has this haunting sound. If you've heard him sing then you may know what I'm trying to convey. 

My 10th grade High School year I did a project on abortion and my anti-views. I used several forms of media as part of my presentation and content, some of which were Christian music (such as Killers of the Unborn by Barren Cross). I really had wish I knew about the song See No Evil at the time as I love the lyrics of the song. Add the children singing on the chorus and it gives the song even more power.

All I can say is buy this album. If you are a fan of Cinderella or early 90's metal in general, I think you'll find this album right up your alley. Now this does tend to be somewhat expensive on CD on the secondary market. I paid a little less than $15 for my copy. Little did I know at the time of purchase that I was buying a promotional copy of the album. I don't think mine ultimately is any different, but I'm so glad to have Holy Soldier's freshmen effort on disc. Instead of padding the pockets of a stranger, head on over to Holy Soldier's official website and buy the album (and others) for only $17 in their store!