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Armored Saint
La Raza
(Metal Blade Records)
As a fervent, Attention Deficit Disorder-addled practitioner of the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres, my musical tastes--and thus the artists and groups I find myself enjoying the most--have changed dramatically as I have aged and matured. Gone, for the most part, at least, are the simple and obvious melodies of my youth, having been quickly and unceremoniously replaced by a mind-boggling series of increasingly complex arrangements and abrasively introspective lyrics. A prime example of this metamorphosis is my renewed fascination with Los Angeles, California-based veterans Armored Saint. An indulgence once begrudgingly forgotten (primarily due to the 1992 unveiling of vocalist John Bush as the latest frontman of new and improved Thrash titans Anthrax), I was eventually able to set aside my questionably-motivated misgivings and wholeheartedly ‘rediscover’ the group’s sprawling catalog with a previously unparalleled, childlike enthusiasm.
On the brilliant La Raza (2010), an expertly assembled ten song collection of ‘…invariably ingenious…’ Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, each track, beginning with the relentlessly pummeling “Loose Cannon”, and the curiously-titled--albeit highly-effective--“Left Hook From Right Field”, immediately commands the rapt and undivided attention of even the most jaded and unimaginative of listeners, myself most definitely included. Refusing to conform to the emasculated, ‘tried and true’ formulas so often employed by their few remaining contemporaries, the group bridges the distances between their major label past (the group was signed to the now-defunct British imprint Chrysalis Records from 1984 - 1987) and the stripped-down, Independent reality of the present. Initially one the group’s most widely accessible offerings to date, the ensuing archetypical sonic onslaughts, while not necessarily groundbreaking and far from revolutionary, are nothing short of extraordinary.
Continuing with the Politically-fueled tirade “Get Off The Fence”, and the refreshingly multi-dimensional “Black Feet”, the steadfast--to say the very least--combination of now-erstwhile Anthrax frontman John Bush, guitarists Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan (ex-Odin), bassist Joey Vera (Anthrax, Engine and Fates Warning, among others) and drummer Gonzo Sandoval steamroll ahead at what can only be described as a frequently feverish pace. Wisely re-embracing their fabled Symbol Of Salvation line-up, the group stomps, twists and turns through each exceedingly bloodthirsty composition, effectively reminding all parties involved of the virtuosic tendencies contained within. Undoubtedly concerned with the more than considerable damages inflicted upon their hard-earned reputation as ‘…commercial entity…’ not to be ignored, the group delivers a unique blend of gritty vocals, searing fretwork and boldly punishing rhythms without sounding forced or dated.
Easily surpassing the undeniably well-executed 2001 rarities compilation Nod To The Old School (or, for that matter, the 2004 compendium DVD Lessons Not Well Learned 1991 – 2001), other standouts, including the maddeningly infectious, Punk-tinged “Little Monkey”, and the equally impressive closer “Bandit Country”, further solidify each key focal point with the seemingly inexhaustible passion that has personified much of the group’s tragedy-laden tenure as one of the genre’s truly unsung heroes. An absolute must-have for anyone with a genuine and sincere thirst for all things Old School, particularly as it pertains to the ‘Founding Fathers’ of yore, even if you somehow find yourself less than enthralled with the inexplicably enduring group’s oft-sporadic existence (the group has issued a total of three ‘…new releases…’ since 1991), one must, at the very least, sincerely admire their disturbingly ceaseless proclivity for perfecting their already carefully-honed chops.
So what, exactly, are you waiting for? With Bush and Vera serving as the group’s primary creative force(s), the majority--if not all--of the delightfully incendiary La Raza seamlessly blends a staggering array of elements from the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres, ultimately yielding an overwhelmingly airtight collection of material that is quite easily worthy of the highest of critical and commercial accolades. While such a stylistic distinction may indeed alienate a certain aspect of the group’s notoriously rabid constituency (i.e. those fond of the March Of The Saint era), the overall impact of the quintet’s efforts are both immediately palpable and lastingly satisfying. As a result, if you’ve once again found yourself in search of an easily-digestible alternative to staggering wealth of puréed mediocrity that is so often the proverbial ‘…mainstream…’, then this, my friends, might just be the woefully long-overdue cure the doctor ordered. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Select Discography
La Raza (2010)
Lessons Not Well Learned 1991 - 2001 (DVD) (2004)
Nod To The Old School (2001)
Revelation (2000)
Symbol Of Salvation (1991)
Saints Will Conquer (1988)
A Trip Thru Red Times (DVD) (1987)
Raising Fear (1987)
Delirious Nomad (1985)
March Of The Saint (1984)
Armored Saint (EP) (1983)