Album Review: Armored Saint - Emotion Factory Reset (Metal Blade Records, 2026)
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Written: 9th May 2026
It is almost impossible to think of a time when Armored Saint were not part of the heavy metal fraternity. Their full-length debut album was released over forty years ago and they have been one of the most entertaining bands in the genre, boasting a remarkably consistent line-up for the vast majority of their existence. Despite their longevity, Emotion Factory Reset is only the band’s ninth album but in part, this has helped them to maintain the quality of their output and keep a fresh perspective on their evolution. “Each Armored Saint record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don't think we've ever repeated ourselves,” states bassist Joey Vera. “Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at.” Guitarist Jeff Duncan agrees, “I like to think that Armored Saint doesn’t keep making the same album over and over. Emotion Factory Reset is another musical chapter for the band. When the five of us play together, we have a special chemistry.”
As you might expect, opener Close To The Bone walks the line between hard rock and heavy metal and lives up to Joey Vera’s promise. There is all the recognisable DNA of an Armored Saint classic but is driven by a fresh vitality. Vera’s and fellow guitarist Phil Sandoval’s sparkling interplay is catchy and vibrant. Delivering each word with typical flair, John Bush’s voice continues to defy the passing years and he fully deserves to be mentioned in any conversation about great metal vocalists. I detest you thoughts run amok / Hide my feelings under this cloak / With thin skin, I’m vulnerable / This libertine is unshakable. Commenting on the inspiration for the lyrics, Bush reveals, “They came out of trying to figure out how to work with people who maybe you don't see eye to eye with. I think that's a normal thing that people struggle with on a daily basis.” A rapid-fire first track, Close To The Bone is a solid introduction to Emotion Factory Reset and shows that the quintet still mean business.
Every Man - Any Man begins with synths and a slightly muted riff. Bush feels the introduction has an Andy Summers vibe and it is easy to see why. Early in the track, there is also a moment that reminds me of some of Bruce Dickinson’s solo work around the time of Skunkworks. It underlines that Armored Saint are keen to keep variety at the heart of their work and there is a distinct and beguiling bassline from Joey Vera. Bush explains, “That's vintage Joey, he’s such a grooving bass player, and it sounds super unique; you probably won't hear a groove like that from too many metal bands, in my opinion. Joey is like a funk bass player, in a way.” Towards the end, crunching riffs and a fiery solo deliver the heaviest moments, sure to bring a smile to the faces of long-term fans.
As the album progresses, Not On Your Life, another faster rocker is - like the rest of the album - extremely well played but is more formulaic and never quite moves beyond the conventional. As a result, it does not engage in the same way as much of the other material. Lyrically, it is also less convincing with lines such as 'You already know my name is John Doe / Yeah you already know but still give it a go' lacking the originality found elsewhere.
Recent single Hit A Moonshot restores the album’s momentum and feels like a band revelling in the moment. Bush explains, “It is about people who keep landing on their feet. Like, no matter what the fuck this person does. Some people just get lucky. No matter how many times you think they're going to fall on their face, they end up landing on their feet. Certainly, some lyrics are where I'm trying to poke fun, to be humorous, because I really do like to add a humour into it whenever I can.” One of several songs that would work extremely well in the live arena, it is one of which Jeff Duncan is proud, “I think the song defines what Armored Saint sounds like now. I really dig it. I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars on everything. My solos were done with a couple different guitars; it’s simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip.”
Buckeye – the longest song on the album at just over six minutes – is the closest the album comes to a ballad and is among its most interesting tracks. Inspired by Bush’s daughter leaving for college in Ohio, it is the most personal and emotionally resonant song here. Adopting a slower and moodier approach, it finds thoughtful use of slide guitar from Duncan and at times, hints at a country aura. Brooding and elegantly arranged, it is a contender for the best song on Emotional Factory Reset such is the impact of Armored Saint pushing the boundaries of their experimentation. Lyrically, it will hit home for any parent watching their child grow and develop through the different milestones of life. A mighty ambition is required / To push to pull to never tire / Big obstacles to power through / Hit the ground running.
Compromise – for which Vera challenged himself to write more concisely - moves back into more familiar territory during its three and a half minutes and drummer Gonzo Sandoval demonstrates why he claims he feels his playing is now more relaxed and dynamic. If any track feels like a band playing together in a garage, it is this one. During the central section, each member has a moment in the spotlight with individual solos. It’s A Buzzkill - which John Bush feels has a similar groove to Dropping Like Flies from Symbol of Salvation - is full of infectious riffs while adding further diversity to the album. The band wrote Throwing Caution To The Wind together and old-school style in the studio. The band comments, “We’re not 20 years old anymore with no obligations or responsibilities, so it’s not as easy as it used to be to go into the studio and have a couple drinks and just see what comes out of it.” With a looser feel, it is the perfect soundtrack for a summer drive.
As the album enters its final quarter, Ladders and Slides notably beefs up the sound, injecting a welcome grittier and more physical edge into proceedings. Bush states, “It’s loosely based on a fictitious woman, but it could be anybody who has a lot of extremes in life. It could be drugs, could be alcohol. It could be an adrenaline junkie. In the world of rock and roll you go through that a lot. A lot of people need that.” It places renewed emphasis on the low end, with Joey Vera’s bass pushed forward in the mix, giving the track a real sense of depth and drive that will - without doubt - give your subwoofers a workout.
This continues throughout the penultimate track Bottom Feeder, which stomps forward with insistent power, occasionally splintering into tense and jagged bursts of staccato. Taken together, these two tracks form a crucial late surge in the album’s pacing, reinvigorating its energy and maintaining the listener’s attention. They also underline how effectively Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan complement one another, each bringing contrasting textures that add weight and character to the band’s sound at a key point in the record.
Final track Epilogue might not be the most original track in the band’s discography but it closes the album with real verve, driven by a throbbing bassline and restless, muscular riffs that keep the energy levels high. There is a confidence and familiarity to its approach, drawing on well‑established elements of the band’s sound while delivering such conviction that it still resonates positively. In doing so, it forms an effective bookend with Close to the Bone, both tracks grounded in the core traits that define Armored Saint.
Emotion Factory Reset reflects a band who know exactly what they are about while still looking to occasionally work outside the perimeter of their previous material. As John Bush himself acknowledges, “There’s never gonna be another Master of Puppets or Appetite for Destruction. We can all take inspiration from our previous records, but that was a different time. Armored Saint don't want to make another March of the Saint. I want to keep moving forward, but we know who we are, it’s not like we're going to dish out the new trip hop, black metal, bluegrass album.”
That attitude shapes a record which sits comfortably alongside their later output, built on the same direct approach and tight playing. Not every track engages to the same degree but there is more than enough drive, feel and musicianship to carry it through. For those already on board with where the band have been heading, this will feel completely in keeping with that direction; it shows a group still capable of sounding purposeful without needing to completely redefine themselves. More than four decades on, Armored Saint remain a band whose commitment and craft ensure they are still well worth hearing.
Emotion Factory Reset is released on 22nd May 2026
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