Vol #237: Saints of Lorain – “Those Dark Roads”
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Volume #237: Saints of Lorain – “Those Dark Roads”
Release Date: June 2026
Good afternoon to you, my friend, and welcome back to the RbRR in it’s 237th installment. This week we have a good one for us to take a listen to. It is the long anticipated debut album by the Saints of Lorain. Hot off the heels of 2025’s “Before We Were Saints” EP, this Punk Rock powerhouse is back in full force. This collection is twelve songs packed with a fiery energy that is sure to tantalize the pallets of the most distinguished listeners. I received this album a few weeks back and have been Rocking it regularly ever since. It is now, when I think I finally have a grasp on it, that I will sit down to pen my thoughts. So without further delay, here is my analysis of “Those Dark Roads” starting with a few stand out tracks...
Saints of Lorain
Kicking off the album, and my review, will be “Be Here Alone.” This song, plucked from the bands “O.D. (Obligatory Demo)” is one of my favorite classic Saints tracks. From it’s opening Bass plucks it draws me in and as the riff comes in ripping strong, it clamps down hard. Packed with sharp edged energy, this song kicks off the album with a bang. At only a minute and twenty seconds in length this track is a whirlwind that blows through and then is gone. While it’s here though it is a bonafide ass kicker the lets you know exactly which direction the album is about to take.
Next I want to talk about “Redmoon.” This song is a bit slower, when compared to the rest of the album. It has more of a plodding tempo, with a heavier sound over all. This song is dark and has a menacing feel. I love the Drum work. It is stomping and very heavy; the double bass action really punches up the intensity. The occasional roaring backing vocals are a nice touch. All in all this song is a nice change of pace on the record, adding a layer of wickedness the overall sound. Fun Fact: The albums title “Those Dark Roads” is plucked from the chorus of this track.
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My next stand out track is “Good People.” I don’t know what it is about this track, but something about it really sticks with me. Maybe it’s the riff, which is upbeat and danceable. Or the toe tapping Drumbeat that makes me want to shake my ass every time I hear it. We’ve got another lively Bass line and another excellent Vocal performance as well. So all the pieces are there, but I think its the lyrics that really get me. The whole notion that “Good people are capable of horrible things” is a great basis for a Punk song, that’s for sure. The overall track is excellent and it has a catchy hook to boot, making this an easy choice for a stand out track.
The final song I want to discuss is the album closer, “Last Goodbye.” This is a song about loss. It’s a song about seeking closure and trying to live on, when someone you love is gone. The lyrics are heartfelt and emotional. The music is magnificent. The Drums march us forward with a deliberate tempo. The riff is like a saw blade, dutifully chewing it’s way through a plank. It cuts along as the Vocalist tells his tale of how he moves forward day after day. It’s a pretty bad ass piece of music and an important chapter in the book of the Saints of Lorain. It is heated and emotional and it brings the album to and abrupt and sudden end, closing out the collection definitively.
Heavy on Cleveland… You either are, or you’re not.
So ultimately, what do I think about “Those Dark Roads” by Saints of Lorain? Well, I have to tell you without a hint of reservation that I love it. I think it is a powerful new testament in the holy book of Cleveland Rock N’ Roll. It is twelve tracks of Punk Rock fury, packed with energy, heart and plain old Rustbelt grit. This is a collection that hits hard. I mean, it goes right for the gut. Each track is a punch, landing one after another, in quick succession. The recording is top notch. The new songs sound great and those reanimated from the “O.D.” have been given a new lease on life. The musicianship is unrivaled and the Vocals are passionate. In addition, there is lyrical depth. Each song tells a tale, divulges a truth or bears out a trauma. This brings the songs to life with real world experiences. Yes, there is a truth to “Those Dark Roads” that is undeniable. And beyond all that, it simply Rocks. These songs are good and they make me want to bang my head. In the end, that is the most important criteria that we can apply to an album: Does it make you want it hoist your horns in the air and scream?! Well, I can tell you definitively that, yes, Saint of Lorain’s new album does just that. It slams, period. This record will undoubtedly snap necks wherever it is played. It will inspire crowds and leave raging moshpits in it’s wake. It will be played… Loud, and will no doubt leave it’s mark on this summer and season’s beyond. Ladies and Gentlemen, Saints of Lorain have arrived. It’s time for them to get the respect they deserve. I do proclaim “Those Dark Roads” a must listen recording and demand it to be placed at the top of all 2026 Summer Playlists. SO it is written. So shall it be done. And there you have it Cleveland. Another week and another album to Rock. I thank you for reading along as I continue to seek out the best music around the Underground. Keep your heads held high and you horns held higher!
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
4/11-4/12/2026
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