| What The Fans Are Saying 2 |
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COMMENTS, EMAILS & MEMORIES, FROM THE FANS... Last Updated 02/01/05 Note: In case you are wondering about why some letters are bold and some are not... This is simply a way to help you, the vistor/reader, read the emails easier and know where one letter ends and the next one begins. I'm NOT saying that one email is better than the other because it's in bold. Thank you! And just like the other pages, Josh Kramer's replies are in italic. Hey Josh, My name is Randy and I sing for a Christian metal band called TYKKUS. Dale Burton is one of the guitar players and he sent me your email address so I could say "hey" to a fellow metal frontman. :) I guess you and him chat via email occasionally. I just wanted to let you know that SAINT is probably my favorite Christian metal band and I have REALLY been enjoying the re-done "Warriors of the Son" for the last few weeks! Keep up the good work because it sounds like you guys are BACK and stronger than ever! We actually cover one of you guys' songs in our live set: "In the Night". It's a blast to play and we all look forward to doing it every time we play out. Maybe someday you will get a chance to hear us do it. :) So, are you guys touring right now or any time in the near future? I'd love to get a chance to hear you live sometime. I've been listening to you guys since about 1995, but I've never seen you live. Anyway, keep in touch and keep up the GREAT work! God bless, - Randy Hi Josh, I don't know if you remember me or not, but my name is Jeff and I used to write to you under the name MetalJax777. of course i remember you! I don't have that address anymore, but use this one now. I just ordered the 20th anniversary edition of Warriors of the Son. I can't wait to get it. I am so excited to see you keep on making music. I love the one new (old) song, Killers, Destroyers!! It sounds like classic Saint. thank you. Killers, Destroyers seems to be the going favorite. for me, it is a toss up between warriors, k and d, abyss, and the reaper on this album. plan 2 is a lot more fun to listen to also. I have heard that you are working on a new Studio album, a follow up to In The Battle (one of the best metal discs released in the last 10 years, in my opinion). you're very kind to say so! Is there any truth to that? yes! If so, when are you going to have clips up on your website? i'll surely let you be one of the first to know. Do you know if you are going to be putting out T-shirts or posters? by all means! My wall could definately use a Saint poster or two and you can't ever have too many metal t-shirts. How is the Nick project going? I have the first part that you released on CD a while ago. I think I read that it is on hold for now, but I can't wait to hear the whole thing on audio disc. Congrats on getting it published as a book. That's very cool. dude, this is tripping me out because last night while i was burning a stack of home baked cdr's of part 2, i was flooded with the thought of the great timing of sending out part 2 to everyone that has part one for christmas this year. you do remember that you get part 2 free just because you have part 1, right? please write and confirm your present address and it's on it's way I can't wait to get the Warriors disc and look forward to more things from one of my favorite metal bands of all time. Rock On, Jeff Josh (howard) Hi!, Hope things are going well, I heard you went out to Ill. hope that all went well. I spoke to Rich last sunday. seems that things are really moving along! You know, I heard that "Warriors 04" was Good but Man! That disc smokes!, And you can still scream!, wow! I was reading somewhere, that you would like to do a solo CD?, That would be cool!, you need to get your "musical" rocks off. (so to speak). Im sure Rich would be happy to help. he seems like a nice guy., Rich and I were talking about "Times end" being re-issued (the right way), he hates that live bootleg stuff!, I told him you guys should re-record 2-3 songs off "times end", or 1 new really "over the top" tune, to use as bonus tracks. That was just my idea, but Im not sure, "Times end" was/is a pretty smokin Cd on its own. but this current line up seems very, very capable!. Well, I wanted to say thanks to! for being a blessing. I make it a Habit to pray for you guys, and Saint as a band also. Im glad you guys are together again! I believe a miracle happened!, for all you guys! well, Im gonna go now. God Bless You! And All that You Do! Marc (Josh's reply) mark! dude! great of you to drop in. your letter was a much needed jolt of humor. call me howie or josh. or howiejosh. rich is going to assist me doing a solo project as is mike layne of 3 chord records. mike is an amazing producer / engineer. i was so inspired by justin murr's project featuring a small community of players from the 80 bands, that now i want to do something similar. i'll preproduce a buncha stuff here with rich, then take the bun files to mike and do the final tweeking. i'll incorporate a potporri (did i spell that right?) of players on the project from various bands. i want to feature scott sifton, dee harrington, jerry johnson, i'll even hunt down john mahan if i have to show up on hs door step myself with a cd burner, a mic in my back pack nail his door shut, take the phone off the hook and record him in his living room.. i want to feature john perrine on drums, possibly dean castranova on drums also...(i'm dreaming here now dude. endulge me!) ....uh, oh yeah and my new friends in germany who are in a new up comming gospel extreem thrash band called, "adorned graves" these guys are really great players just starting out with rock solid testimonies for christ. i love their garage recorded home made hand written demo. even with all the mistakes and raw garage tones it really kicks out the jams. almost reminicent of vengence rising before the falling out. these guys are going to make it! they have my endorsement and blessing! i'll have rich and me on bass. i'll mabey see if i can get jim laverde on bass too. the bro's and my dear friends from neon cross, . mabey see if my brother's and friend's les carlson and david safiro to do some guitar and vocal work on a track or 2. the bro's from messiah prophet, die happy, i'll try to get as many of my brothers from current and bands past to be on this. this will be a fun project how ever and who ever i get to perform on it. josh Hey Joshy-dude!!! Hey Your Grand Industrial-Strength Metalness! I just finished an e-mail to the Saint website via the media section for you, Rich, and Dee. Check it out. I read your latest posting on the Sanctuary website and that's the beginning of the trail that led me to the band website and finally to you. It just knocks me over about the band being active again and that you're back, too. Most awesome! let's Looking forward to hearing from/seeing you, Dan Hey bro. How's things going. I just listened to a clip of killers and destroyers off of the new Warriors of the Son. It sounds AWSOME!! You guys never cease to amaze me. You just keep crankin' out the good tunes:-). I really hope yall haven't already come to south carolina. I know I was out of touch with you for a while so if you did I missed you guys. It's cool if you have, I just hope you haven't. Have yall been anywhere close? Oh, I meant to tell ya dude, last month was my birthday. Oct. 23. I'm now 20! Me getting older, now thats a scary thought, lol.:-) Well bro. I guess I'll talk to ya later. You take it easy. Keep on rockin! See ya. Your freind and brother in Christ -Larry Josh, I see how to order the new CD on the site, however.....any way to score one autographed by the band or at least more importantly by you ?? Thanks. ROKKEN RANDY Still Can't Stop The Rock In 2004 ! Dear Josh, I am very excited that Saint has a new CD coming out. I listened to the MP3's of the new songs and, You still have it dude songs sound great. I just ordered the Saint collection from Rich because, my cassette tapes died long ago. :) I hope things work out for a Saint tour once the album is released . Whatever God has in store for Saint, You're in my prayers. Tim Josh, I remember 1985 at the Temple Theater in Tacoma, me and my 4 buddies came to see Rez we loved the concert but on the way home we left with vinyl and tapes of Saint. I still have them the Vinyl is in excellent shape as I played it once (to record it on cassette) that cassette melted in the sun on the front seat of a car I haven’t owned in years. All we talked about on the way back to Seattle was “that band Saint rocked!!!.” I still remember the opening riff of the opening song you guys played that night and that chill I got down my back from listening to Christian brothers that just shredded. Anyway all this talk of glory days just makes us both feel old so I’ll stop. One thing I read on your site that I love so much is integrity. Your site reeks of integrity all over and your desire to make everyone completely satisfied. You’re also open to suggestions, criticisms and praise. I admire you more than ever. I’m working on the finishing parts of a book that should be out in 2004. I’ll send you a copy when it’s out and I hope it’ll just be a partial payback for all the joy Saint has given me over the years. God Bless You, Tracy Sign me up for the preorder of the "In the Battle" package! I've been a fan of Saint since I first bought Warriors of the Son back in '85, so I would be getting this no matter what, but the way my bud David (King of Metal) has been raving about the song you sneaked him, I'm positively salivating to get my hands on it! You guys are gonna be causing a buzz when this disc hits the streets! I'll place my order tomorrow I hope, and if anything comes with a signature on it, I would not complain. ;) Nick Josh Dude, I just listened to the samples at saintsite.com... WOW! Dude, this album is going to show the world why Saint is the greatest metal band ever! Your voice is SO POWERFUL! Rock on, man! Also, I'm glad to see the return of the spikes and leather! Ian |
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Hi from a new Saint Fan "Full Armor" sound byte sample - Josh, I just found it and listened to it. I like it. Are all the vocals yours? I love the harmonizing on it. Very good. I'm gonna keep this one in my playlist as well. I really like it. Thanks for sharing these songs with us. Wow... I am blown away.. I love the new song. It is awesome. I love the part right after the accoustic opening. This is going to be one my most anticipated releases in 2004. It is at the top of my "to buy" list. Thanks again for putting out such an awesome song, and I can't wait to hear the whole album. I can see why David (WashesWhiterThan) was so excited about this. Thanks, Jeff Whats up dude! So how's everything going bro. I still can't tell you how excited I am about the new album. I just know its gonna rock! Metal is awsome. Especially when It has a Godly message. I gotta ask ya man, how in the world do you hit those notes!! I mean, I can remember hearing the Too Late for Living album for the first time and just thinking "How does he do that?!" And then I listened to Full Armor and you still got it bo.! I don't know how you do it man but it rocks! There's nothing like a good ol' 80's scream! I'm still blown away by your beautiful guitar playing at the beginning of Full Armor, and then the way the crunch just kicks in! I'm tellin ya man, if you guys come down here I am gonna be first in line! I'll have to let you know your in my area that way you can put me on the backstage pass list. I really do hope I get to meet you man. Well bro. I gotta get going. Take it easy. God bless:-) See ya! Your friend and brother in Christ, and of coarse biggest fan, -Larry Josh, I just pre-ordered the new CD I hope I don't have to wait too long to hear it. I never got the chance to see Saint live back "in the day" hope I get the chance soon. When I was a in middle school, I had a Time's End shirt I wore to school a lot. One day, A classmate asked if Saint was a metal band I said yes they are. He said he wanted to hear some of your music so I gave him an extra copy of Time's End I had. When I asked him what he thought about the album he said, " They're a cool band ." He also said he noticed "something different" about the lyrics he couldn't quite figure out yet. I told him to keep listening and ask me any questions he might have. I don't know for sure, but I hope a difference was made in his life because I Introduced him to Saint. Sorry for being so long winded. Take care Bro. Tim Hi Josh! I finally had the opportunity to check out the songs! Wow! 'In the Battle' is definitely classic Saint!!!! :-) I've been waiting for this! I enjoy the guitar work on each sample song. I really liked the guitar rhythm on 'Sacrifice'. Really catchy. You are totally wailing on 'Full Armor' too. I think that may be my favorite at this point. :-) I have no choice but to pre-order! (But of course you probably knew I would do that!) :-) Check is on the way man. PS I got the package you sent with Saint tunes! Thanks for all that! I am enjoying the basement tapes. It brings back memories. I have some old basement takes myself from bands I used to be in. It was always the coolest thing to pop on a tape or CD of the band you were in -even if the quality wasn't so good. Well keep up the great tunes, You bro in Christ, Bodie Hey Josh, this is really good! Love the guitar work and of course the vocals. Do you have any tracks from Times end like this? Hey listen my folks own and operate Russia's first Christian radio station 1089 am Radio TEOS. You can listen to it on your computer online! If you sent me your cd I could have it plaed there. You could listen to your stuff as its being played in Russia. My next trip is in January to St Petersburg. As you are my favorite metal act I would love to promote you any way I can even if thats it. If you dont want to thats cool. Just a thought. Derek
Hi Josh!!! I got your stuff. thanks a lot!!! I love your music and the new album is pretty cool... I'll let you know when my Saint review is online... See you!!! ;-) TOBI
Let me knw when the CD comes out...I am first to get it!!I still have Times End, Warriors of the Son..on vinyl and too late on casette... I have listendd to Saint since Times End came out...and I have a huge collection of 80's metal... I miss bands like Scarlet Red, Rage of Angels, even Whitecross (old style of course)Neon Cross! man...those bands were it... and of course Saint!Talk soon bro Rod
Hey, Josh, my name's Mike...I'm nearly 32 yrs old, married, with two fine boys. Been a Saint fan since 1985 or 86, somewhere in there. I've been hearing lots about you/Saint/the new album from David Adams, who is my best friend. I hear you and he have been keeping in touch. That's very cool! Anyway, just wanted to send a note of encouragement to say that I am VERY, VERY stoked to hear the new album! Saint has always been one of my favorites, and also one of my wife's favorite bands. I'm absolutely glad that you're back in Saint...frankly, you make Saint, to tell you the truth! I know that the true metalheads will eat this new album up! Well, God bless you, brother, and I hope to hear from you when you get a free moment! In Christ and for metal! Mike
Hey dude! How's it going. Dude that is a really killer deal your cutting with the new album. That’s what I call getting your moneys worth! You are definitely one of the most generous guys I know:-) So what have you been up to my friend. I hope you guys get to do a concert down here. I'll be the first in line to buy tickets bro. If its saint, I'm there!! I'd finally get to meet you too. That would be so awesome. I don't know what I'd say. I'm serious man, Saint's music has inspired me in so many ways. And the cool thing was that you guys where a Christian group that played REAL metal. Not pop metal. And the best part of all is that your back in full swing ready to deliver more of that heavenly metal assault that has literally helped me to keep pushing on in times of darkness. I can't tell you how awesome it is to see you back at the vocal helm again bro. I think I can speak for all of the fans when I say, we missed you brother:-) Well dude I just wanted say hi and let you know once again how much of an inspiration both you and Saint are to me. God bless brother:-) See ya! Your brother in Christ, -Larry
 Hi Josh, Yes, I did get the demos you sent and appreciate it very much. Here are my opinions for what little they may be worth: Yes, the Basement tapes are of a low sound quality, but don't make apologies for it. It serves the purpose of giving Saint fans something to chew on until the new material comes. And there is a lot of great stuff on there- we get to hear a lot of the classic tunes in the works, radio spots, unreleased material, Richard's biker vocals, etc. Same for the shrinkwrapping. If they're CDR's, don't worry about it. As long as the fans know what they're buying, they'll eat it up.
Nicholas seems like a massive project. I enjoyed hearing it. Had to laugh at you trying to do so many different characters yourself, like Eddie Murphy playing the entire Klump family in the Nutty Professor. Not sure what to tell you about that. Sometimes I think it sounds like it should be an animated children's movie, but other times it's more serious in nature. There's a place here in PA that puts on Christian plays, usually about biblical characters- it's called Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA. If you knew any gifted artists I could easily see Nicholas as a comic book series (not the cartoon kind, but the extremely detailed graphic novel kind of thing). With something like that I think you'd have to finish the writing of it and sell the idea to someone with the knowledge, money , and strings to bring it to life. It really is a departure from Saint, but I would encourage you to keep at it. There are far too Christians using their creativity to make relevant art, be it music, movies,plays, novels, etc. About the song "Cold Day". The instrumentation is perfect. It's not the typical Josh Kramer voice that the Saint fans know. You seem to go out of tune when you hit the higher notes on the chorus. The background vocals (I'm assuming that's you as well) work good with it. With some reworking on the vocals it definitely has possibilities. The song "Full Armor" as I'm sure you are aware, is almost flawless metal. I hear Rob Halford is back together with Judas Priest after 13 years and I think Saint is going to give them a run for their money. Great work! I can't wait to hear the whole album. I hear what you're saying with how you feel about your play. Good talking to you. Peace. - Chris Yes, I did get the Basement Tapes and Nick package awhile back. Great stuff too! I still want to do a full proper review of IN THE BATTLE, song-by-song, so I'll try and put that together in a few days. I have to say that I have one favorite band I still like to go on long night drives (my version of weekend cruising) with my wife and just let the music speak to me, and that is Judas Priest. Something about their sound is irresistable. But somewhere around the late '80s, after I was firmly planted in Christian rock music (I had a pop/hard rock band called No Compromise that was doing well in the Valley of the Sun until key members left for various colleges across the country), I went to a local used record store with a Christian bass player friend of mine and they had several Saint CDs there. Now don't feel bad about your albums being in a used record bin this was Zia Records (still around) and they have several stores in Arizona with LOTS of used CDs of all kinds - and they only sell stuff they feel will sell, only cool stuff! The funny thing is, they don't know the rare collectable value of your CDs - I paid only .00 for each disc of TIME'S END and TOO LATE FOR LIVING, but I've actually seen the TIME'S END CD in a Christian bookstore hanging on their collectables wall with the price of .00 back in 1993! So your stuff is of high value on the open collectors market (I've seen other examples as well)! Anyway, back to the story: After hearing those two albums, I had a new cruising partner for my car stereo! I love to cruise on a weekend night on out-of-the-city dark roads cranking Saint! Now I can cruise a bit longer with a third masterpiece disc! I have played your stuff for musician friends both Christian and secular who had grown up on '80s metal and they are always impressed with what they hear. So now, we have another entry with the same fire of the previous material. Praise God! This is PURE metal in all the truest senses - not just the music, but also the message and spirit! MARK -------------- Hey, I am still working up a killer review of IN THE BATTLE, including track-by-track - hopefully I'll have it completed by this weekend and get it out to you to use for promotion, etc. I just wanted to drop this line to tell you how awesome that song "Cold Day" is! Man, the emotion and the rain and thunder effect sends chills down my spine when combined with the lyrics and backing vocals! I just had to tell how much this rare piece has touched me! MARK Josh, My copy of In the Battle just arrived in the mail. I was surprised to see the picture the band signed. I wanted to thank you guys for adding that nice gift for your fans. God bless you guys, Tim Dear Josh and Saint, Just heard In the Battle. Then I heard it again. And again. Then a few (hundred) more times through the week. Drove down the street with the windows open in the dead of winter, snow blowing everywhere, just so others could hear it as well. Truly an amazing job, you guys! A WOW moment in your careers after being away so long. WOW stands for worthy of worship. Praise God that He is using Saint so effectively and has blessed you all with such great songs, lyrically and especially musically. The quality is superb! I'm proud of you all. I need earplugs now. Nick When I put the CD in for the first time and heard you start to sing, I felt like I found a long lost friend. Saint was a big part of my life during my high school days and I'm glad to be able to rediscover this great band. I really like how Rich has matured as a song writer espcially the in your face lyrics. My favorite song so far is, Sacrifice it's helping me prepare my heart to see the movie The Passion. Overall this is my 2nd favorite Saint release next to Too Late for Living. I've been praying nightly that doors open for you guys to do great things for Jesus with your music. The world needs to know, Satan has misused metal music but, Your here to shove it right back in his face. Again Josh, God bless you guys, Tim Hi Josh. It has been a while since I last spoke with you. Alot has happened to you since I last wrote. I got a job with an internet Drugstore that provides medicine to Americans at an affordable cost. Have been working very hard to try and move up in the company. Love talking to people from down there alot, and have many chances to talk to christians from all over the states. If i feel an opening i try and take it to talk about my faith and what drew me to yet another job that is helping people out. |
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