Los Angeles heavy metal veterans ARMORED SAINT have confirmed their ninth studio album is due in April via Metal Blade Records, extending a partnership with the iconic metal label that stretches back to the band's 1984 debut EP. Produced and mixed by Jay Ruston — whose credits include work with ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, and STEEL PANTHER — the album represents a six-year gap since 2020's "Punching The Sky," the longest interval between ARMORED SAINT records.
Singer John Bush, whose powerful vocals have anchored the band since their 1982 formation and who famously served as ANTHRAX's frontman from 1992 to 2005, described the new record as showing "sophistication in the songwriting" that sets it apart from its predecessors. "We brought in different influences, different instrumentation, and we took chances with arrangement," Bush explained in a recent interview. "It's a continuation of what we've done but also sounds kind of different at the same time."
The album is currently in the mixing phase, with Ruston putting the finishing touches on what promises to be one of the most creatively adventurous entries in ARMORED SAINT's four-decade catalog. The band — which also features founding guitarist Jeff Duncan, bassist Joey Vera (who doubles as bassist for FATES WARNING), drummer Gonzo Sandoval, and guitarist Phil Sandoval — has always prioritized quality over quantity, and the extended gestation period suggests this latest effort has been crafted with characteristic care.
ARMORED SAINT occupy a unique position in the metal landscape: beloved by die-hard fans and respected by peers, yet perpetually overlooked by the mainstream despite a catalog of consistently excellent albums. With Bush's voice showing no signs of diminishing power and the band's collective songwriting chops at their sharpest, this ninth album could be the one that finally widens their audience beyond the devoted faithful.