They have posed the question “Can U Deliver” before, and the answer is a resounding and unequivocal yes! They can and do with this release.
Music history is full of “What if” moments. What if Jeff Beck had joined The Rolling Stones? Or Rory Gallagher, or even Michael Schenker? What would a band featuring Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix sound like? If John Bush had joined Metallica as their lead singer, would they sound the same? Would they be as famous? Guess we’ll never know. Alas, John Bush, when asked by Papa Het himself to join what is arguably the greatest metal band in the world (second only to Iron Maiden, perhaps), said no. He believed his own band was destined for greater things. It was probably a questionable decision, but in hindsight, it was a win-win situation.
Metallica became one of the biggest bands in the world, and Armored Saint became one of the best power metal acts ever. Of course, in terms of sales, we can’t even compare the two bands. But not every group that sells millions of records is automatically good. Nor a band that has become a cult act over the years, and just because they don’t sell a gazillion records, is inherently bad.
With a string of albums as robust as their lineup, Armored Saint keeps releasing solid records. We know what to expect, and they certainly can deliver! They keep marching on, like a tank that obliterates everything in its path. Not concerned with trends of tweaking their sound to make it more palatable. Maybe that is one of the reasons they’ve become a cult band. With rabid fans, instead of a multi-million-selling juggernaut. Perhaps the band is better for it. They record and play what they want, when they’re ready and able to do it. You can’t beat that kind of honesty, and not being stifled by label interference.
This being their ninth album overall, it’s not destined to rock the airwaves. They literally play for the sake of heaviness. After the tragic loss of Dave Prichard, Jeff Duncan has assumed the guitar duties along with Phil Sandoval. Their pairing is nothing short of Hanemann/King (Slayer) or Paul Quinn/Graham Oliver (Saxon) level of complementarity.
Gonzo pounds the skins with chaotic control and precision, as if he were in a madhouse. He is probably one of the most underrated drummers in heavy music, as are Andy Parker from UFO and Brian Downey from Thin Lizzy. Joey Vera’s highly precise bottom end is so strong that it makes things start dropping like flies. He is one of the most talented bass players this side of Cliff Burton (another “what if” moment right here).
John Bush is as forceful and poignant as ever, and his voice sounds like he is standing on the shoulders of giants. His vocal delivery and intensity are nothing short of awe-inspiring. No wonder James Hetfield wanted him to sing for Metallica. Combining his fierce delivery with meaningful lyrical content makes his bark as dangerous as his bite. The message fits perfectly with our status quo, while being remarkably atemporal.
Taking this album at face value would be a big mistake. At its core, yes, they’re the same musicians playing the same acrobatic riffs, awesome bass lines, nimble and forceful drumming, with Bush’s mighty vocals on top. But repeated listens will reveal new details and avenues they haven’t really explored before, which goes to prove these musicians might be older, but ultimately wiser.
Their muscle memory is surely there, but so is their willingness to evolve and find new ways to be pulverizing and heavy.
Emotional Factory Reset is set for release on May 22nd.
PHOTO BY: Travis Shinn
