REVIEW: Armored Saint - Emotion Factory Reset

After four decades of performing classic metal music, a regular Joe would struggle to keep things fresh - that’s certainly not the case for ARMORED SAINT, who are once again injecting new life into the classic rock scene with their upcoming album Emotion Factory Reset. Proudly proclaiming they’ve “never repeated ourselves” and that each album “is a snapshot in time”, Emotion Factory Reset demonstrates this well with sounds that resonate with the older fans, but featuring a modern feel to it that doesn’t feel aged - it’s “dad metal” that all ages can appreciate and headbang to.

Their ninth full-length album in an illustrious career that’s seen them share the stage with fellow powerhouse bands METALLICA, SEPULTURA, and TESTAMENT, ARMORED SAINT have drawn their inspirations for this album from the sounds they’ve been immersed in for years, an inner look at themselves as a band of allies, and their individual journeys over the course of their time. It’s an introspective album of lyrical word play and powerfully hefty rhythms, but also feels laidback in the sense the band aren’t focused on remaining in the past, instead choosing to surge onward while staying true to their roots.

Emotion Factory Reset begins with stirring strings and a triumphing guitar riffs on opening track Close To The Bone, before giving way to fast paced rhythms and John Bush’s raw vocals about hiding his feelings, featuring tearaway guitar solos that would make IRON MAIDEN sit up. Dropping into a palpitating bass line, Every Man-Any Man is one of the more nostalgic tracks on the album, using wordplay to say “every man, any man, has his price”, calling into question the morality of the music scene while adding a mischievous flair to the bridge around bold riffs and thumping drums. Diving headfirst into the snappy drums of Not On Your Life, the pitch of the instruments and vocals feels like a jeering “come and have a go” as Bush sings over rich guitar riffs.

Hit A Moonshot’s eerie glitching synth falls into red hot riffs and high-strung licks, with rough vocals layered over harmonious backing vocals, the bass tearing through the melody and the cymbals crash onward in a frenzy, as if they’re in a rush to deliver their nostalgic sound, dropping slightly in pace and lower pitches for the bridge before ramping the speed back up. Slowing down for a more soundtrack-esque and heartfelt melody, Buckeye almost has a 90s grunge-metal feel to it that hints to SOUNDGARDEN, with layered backing vocals, languid riffs and beats, and a bass that has all the time in the world because it knows you’ll stick around. Compromise is the antithesis to its predecessor, racing back in with Gonzo Sandoval’s fiery beats and Joey Vera’s bone-shaking bass, ramping up to a ‘solo-off’ between Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval’s ripping guitar solos, Vera making his riffs heard and felt.

Fading into a more cinematic, battle-ready intro, It’s A Buzzkill drops into more of a prog-rock anthem with venomous lyrics and striking solos as Sandoval keeps steady time on the drums in a pedal-heavy but understated beat. Throwing Caution To The Wind is the first track that saw the band writing and recording in the studio together, no easy feat with the pressures of modern life. Starting with a rhythm that gets you in a headlock and drags you into a mosh pit, the pace and instruments switching up from rapid-fire to marginally slowed down, before a solo absolutely rips through. A more modern prog-rock drum beat and fuzzed guitar riffs pave the way for Ladders And Slides before it returns more to its classic metal feel, traversing years and genres to compile them into a blend of all their best sounds and inspirations, creating a track that will resonate across more fans of alternate rocks.

Echoing fret slides are joined by a dangerous guitar riff, distorted bass, and pummelling, killer drum beat, Bottom Feeders descending into Bush’s derisive lyrics and untempered rage fuelling his emotive singing, showing they have zero time for people who believe themselves better than others. Aptly named Epilogue sees us out on Emotion Factory Reset, with a blistering rhythm and breathless bass line that undercurrents the melody, the whole song meaning business as it shifts slightly into an exultant call of “I am the catalyst” and delectable guitar solo. 

They may close out with “the end is near”, but ARMORED SAINT have shown they’re nowhere near done claiming their rightful throne in the metal scene.

Score: 8/10

Emotion Factory Reset will be released on 22nd May 2026 via Metal Blade Records.

Words: Julia Stark

Photos: Armored Saint