The Los Angeles metal stalwarts release their new album Punching The Sky. Armoured Saint have sat on the outskirts of the heavy metal big hitters since their inception in 1986. As such I have never really been exposed them or can confess to knowing much of their back catalogue. However, like many of you I know their vocalist John Bush very well.
John Bush replaced Joey Belladonna as the vocalist in Anthrax in 1992. Blessed with a unique, powerful and gruff vocal style, he is one of the most recognisable frontmen in the heavy metal universe. Whilst I think the early Belladonna fronted Anthrax had the best songs, they sounded collectively at their best with Bush leading them. His voice better suiting the style of music they played at the time. He also infamously turned down an opportunity to be Metallica‘s front man early in their career, in favour of staying true to his childhood buddies in Armoured Saint. How I would love to visit an alternative dimension where that is reality.
But we’re here to talk Armoured Saint, and they have released their 8th studio album Punching The Sky. I was a little apprehensive at first seeing the 53 minute run time. This is quite long for a typical metal album, especially for a band with a straight forward approach – no highly technical or progressive elements usually associated with an extended run time.
Opening track Standing on the Shoulders of Giants begins with a folky/industrial instrumental section, but really kicks into life after a couple of minutes. John Bush‘s trademark vocals over some good old fashioned heavy metal riffing. A shout-along, fists in the air chorus follows and now we have ourselves a metal album.
Lead single from the album End of Attention Span – clearly aimed at the modern humans inability to concentrate for longer than 5 seconds with the breadth of information forever at our fingertips, is a mid tempo riff heavy headbanging feast. Second song over 5 minutes now but not feeling at all tiresome. Just enough going on in each song to keep it interesting all the way through. Not what I anticipated, but marvellous non the less.
We head straight into grunge influenced Bubble, with a breakdown and solo to hang with the best of the groove metal pioneers. Southern hard rock squeezes into My Jurisdiction, and Do Wrong to None is very 80s groove (Racer X style). Lone Wolf and Fly in the Ointment continue the grunge feel. There are Thin Lizzy influenced twin guitar harmonies in Bark, No Bite. Rounding off with the up tempo Never You Fret, ending on some glorious John Bush bellows.
Whilst plenty of musical influences find their way into Punching the Sky, it never feels disjointed. Always smooth running from one track to the next, constantly maintaining the core flavour. Whilst heavy metal has moved on significantly since the 1980s, sometimes we need to be reminded how glorious straight up heavy metal can be. Armoured Saint really delivering here with an excellent album. Raise your fist and bang your head!
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