Armored Saint - La Raza (2010)

Armored Saint is one of those bands that haven been on and off like as many times as a hooker drops her underwear in a month. However, every time the band comes back they either release a kick ass album or tour. “La Raza” is the band’s latest offering that continues the band’s tradition of releasing very solid albums that make people remember them once more.

Featuring John Bush from Anthrax fame and Joey Vera from Fates Warning fame, you know you have a pretty solid band only by hearing these two names. The band plays straight up ‘classic’ or traditional Metal, and they do so which such grace that only a handful of bands can pull this off.

With 10 songs featuring over 50 minutes of music, the band makes you wonder if they are robots since as time passed by, the band seems to sound exactly the same as they left off on their last release. Powerful tracks that make you want to whip out your air guitar and start jamming, is the trademark signature of this band and they do not disappoint with “La Raza”.

Every single song of this release is an anthem by itself, and when they are all pieced together make up for a great album that the ‘older’ generations of metal heads will enjoy to no end. Every single element is top notch in this release: we have simple-but-catchy riffs, fast-paced solos, a great vocal track, all on top of very tight drumming.

The album does get quite interesting in the title track, where you can hear some a very ‘different’ rhythmical section that will make you scratch your head for a bit, but you will grow to appreciate the intentions behind it. The rest of the album flows without a hitch and it’s maybe too ‘generic’ for some, but it works wonders for most of us.

After waiting for ten years since the band’s last full-length release “Revelation”, the band has delivered a very solid release with “La Raza”. If you are a fan of the band, then this release will greatly please you. If you like ‘softer’ Metal, this release will surely be up for your liking and the band will gain a new fan for life. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 10 years for the band to release another album.

Release: March 16th, 2010

Country: USA