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ARMORED SAINT “Emotion Factory Reset”
ARMORED SAINT “Emotion Factory Reset”
By Colonel Angus
I have always had a soft spot for ARMORED SAINT. They should have been bigger but they always seemed like the metal underdogs that were on the cusp of “making it”. Although they never made it to the heights of some of the other bands, they also never fell into the “where are they now files” either. Taking a decade hiatus when John Bush joined ANTHRAX only seemed to elevate their status within the metal community to a higher level and now they enjoy a comfortable position in the heavy metal hierarchy. Even though they released one of their best efforts during the Covid-19 era (what bad timing), they have been busy touring and releasing a live record along with a great single.
Now that I have had time to listen to “Emotion Factory Reset” for a whole week straight (literally - this has been the only record I have spun for a week), I feel the band have continued their track record of releasing great albums. “Close to the Bone” opens the record and it feels like a continuation of “Punching The Sky” which is a good thing. The following two tracks grab a vibe that reminds me of material on “La Raza” mixed with 70s hard rock. There is some guitar work on “Every Man-Any Man” that has a definite THIN LIZZY meets BLUE OYSTER CULT feel which is right up my alley. The following tune, “Not on Your Life,” carries the same 70s hard rock vibe, but with a healthy dose of modern metal influences thrown in for good measure.
Second single “Hit a Moonshot” is another dose of classic sounding ARMORED SAINT that would have fit comfortably on “Punching the Sky”. John Bush sounds fresh and that could be that according to the label notes, a majority of his vocals were taken from the demos which gives his performance a raw edge that captures what ARMORED SAINT is all about. The next song is a weird one for me because it takes a left turn with a 2000s grunge-y sound. “Buckeye” has this laidback tempo with a guitar sound that is unlike most of SAINT’s material. It shows that the band are willing to take chances and even though my first impression was not very good, I have come to enjoy it becoming a “grower” of a tune on “Emotion Factory Reset”. Things get more familiar on “Compromise” which sees the SAINT getting back to what they are known for but with an unexpected middle section with a nice guitar duel.
Thunderous drums introduce “It’s a Buzzkill,” a track that recalls the laid-back groove of “La Raza” while injecting it with a slightly more menacing edge. Upping the tempo, Bush and company tear through “Throwing Caution to the Wind”, channeling the classic sound that defined ARMORED SAINT’s output in the ’80s. This would have fit perfectly on any of the “first era” records albeit with a more modern beefier production. Although initially “Ladders and Slides” seems to get lost in the mix of standout material, it is another late bloomer in the listening cycle. Gonzo Sandoval doesn’t get the credit he so richly deserves when discussing ARMORED SAINT. He is one of the unsung heroes of the band and he positively shines on many of the tracks and I love that the music gives him room to inject his tribal beats like on the opening “Bottom Feeder”. It is a mid-tempo rocker that has one of the most melodic choruses on “Emotion Factory Reset” and in my opinion, one of the highlights,
We end with the driving “Epilogue” finishing off an album that has some surprises and some familiar sounds but never repetitive. I like that the band continues to make records that, as a whole, are different from their previous efforts yet still retain that ARMORED SAINT sound. All in all, the SAINTt have delivered (pun intended) and while I think that “Punching The Sky” might be a very slightly stronger release (and time may change my mind), “Emotion Factory Reset” is an awesome follow up and one every ARMORED SAINT fan will love.
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