Vol. #221: Saints of Lorain – “Before We Were Saints”
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Rustbeltrockreview.com
Volume #221: Saints of Lorain – “Before We Were Saints”
November 1st, 2025
Greetings My Rock N’ Roll Brothers and Sisters. Welcome back to the Rustbelt Rock Review, in all it’s glory. In this installment were gonna roll back the clock a bit and take a quick look at a quick record. With only six songs, and maxing out at about 12 minutes, “Before We Were Saints” by Saints of Lorain is a flash in the pan. Paying tribute to their roots, in the band Al & The Coholics, this EP is meant to connect their present to their past. I’ve been wanting to talk about this record since the second it went live, and I’m stoked to finally sit down, collect my thoughts and write it all out. Before I give you my feelings on the collection as a while, lets take a look at a few stand out tracks.
The first track I want to tell you about is “Drunk & Dangerous.” This song, clocking in a less than a minute and a half, is like a shotgun blast. It goes off, it destroys, its over. Opening with some absolutely blistering Bass notes, it takes off at breakneck speed and never looks back. Everything about this song is somehow hellbent on destruction and mayhem. It is inherent in the very notes. Hard-edged and lightening quick, “Drunk and Dangerous” lights this EP up like a Molotov Cocktail.
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“Nothing to Lose” opens with some cool riffs then is once again slammed into gear by phenomenal Bass work. The Drums are pure punishment, rapid and relentless. The Vocals are served up at an insane cadence, with strong Backing Vox. The whole thing comes together like a maelstrom of Punk fury. This song feels like a challenge to the listener, to get up, get out and go take a chance… on something. On anything. “Nothing to Lose” wants you to grow a set.
Finally, The last song I want to highlight, and my favorite song in the collection, is “Pen in the Jugular.” This is a song about stabbing a dude in the neck with a pen. Pretty simple concept. As writer, I have to say I love the notion. With that being said, what you need to know is this song is 100% pure badassery. The riffs hit like a buzzsaw spinning. The lyrics are violent and gruesome. I think my favorite thing about this song is the backing Vocals on the chorus. The way they absolutely ROAR the words is incredibly forceful and raw. This song is brutal, both in subject matter and in sound, and easily has become the stand out track on the EP.
Saints of Lorain have created a whirlwind collection with “Before We Were Saints.” The songs are ripping fast, brutally raw and fully charged. They are energy and aggression. Power and fury. Knuckles, fists, balls and heart. This is hard edged Cleveland Punk Rock at it’s best. On an EP designed to connect the past and present, it leaves me very hopeful for the future. Based on the direction they’re moving and the quality of the recording, I know whatever Saints of Lorain have coming next is gonna be great. In the mean time, we have a fiery new EP to celebrate. I do proclaim “Before We Were Saints” a must listen record and one hell of a good time. Check it out ASAP and thank you for reading my drivel for yet another week. You Rock!
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Rustbeltrockreview.com
11/8/2025
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