Armored Saint : "Emotion Factory Reset"

The last album I spent much time with by these guys was "Symbol of Salvation", but this album does not find the band straying too far from what they worked there. The album carries a great deal of momentum with some unconventional sounds opening up "Every Man Any-man," but once this album gets going, that momentum causes some of the tracks to run into one another; the space Bush gets on the verses is key to their success here. The first song where I can hear a trace of the more classic metal band they once were is " Not On Your Life."

 This is where one of their strengths this time around comes in, regarding the sound captured here, which is that they do not sound dated and feel vital in 2026, while still being true to the spirit of the band.In some ways, to a metal kid in 2026, this album might feel more rock n roll. "Hit a Moonshot" is a very high-energy take on rock, but has more in common with AC/DC than Slayer. "Buckeye" makes me think of Bruce Dickinson's solo work from the 90s. If he is being compared to Bruce, it means  Bush's voice has held up well for 62 years young.  "Compromise" has a more in-your-face metal groove while giving his vocals space. 

I like the darker grunge feel lurking in the chord progression to "It's a Buzzkill". This is one of the album's strongest songs. "Throwing Caution to the Wind" finds them back on the more rock n roll side of the fence. There are a few heavier riffs in it, and the solos on all the songs are pretty blazing if you are into the old metal shred. "Ladders and Slides" has some of the best drumming of the album; it's subtle and feels like rock. But there is an almsot Zeppelin feel. There is a really cool grooving breakdown in it. 

You can hear more Maiden influence in "Bottom Feeders." There is also a more traditional metal vibe to the last song. It works well enough even with some of the rock n roll excess, but I am not expecting them to be Radiohead, so that works for me. Overall, they prove to be vital in 2026, the album sounds great and not dated, John's voice shows little wear and tear, so I will give this album a 9.5 as it's all you can ask from them and they delivered. Out May 22nd on Metal Blade. 

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