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Armored Saint Marches On
When L.A. metal stalwarts Armored Saint broke up in 1991, "It was a nice place to end the band's nine, ten-year career," admits singer John Bush, currently on the road fronting Anthrax, his now long-time gig with the N.Y.-bred thrash-mongers that became one of the reasons Saint broke up. Still, it wasn't the only reason the band imploded. "We were all miserable in Armored Saint. Joey (Vera, bassist) was way out," furthers Bush. "When Dave (Pritchard, guitarist) died, we decided to make the record we had all worked on. We needed to make Symbol of Salvation (1991), but we thought things were going to change, and they didn't." They broke up instead. So cut to the new millennium, which finds Armored Saint back with a record on their original label, Metal Blade. Revelation (out on March 7), produced by Vera and Bill Metoyer (Slayer/WASP), is called by Bush, "The truest record we've ever made. We have nothing riding on it. Nothing to lose. Joined by original members and brothers Phil Sandoval (guitars), Gonzo (drums) and one-time touring guitarist Jeff Duncan (remember Odin, anyone?) as a full member, Revelation hearkens back to the Saint of old. Full of pulverizing melodies and energy, Revelation, includes some the Saint's strongest material ever, including the pulverizing "Pay Dirt," the screaming fist-pounder "The Flood" and even a Spanish song, "No Me Digas." Fans of classic Saint such as "Last Train Home" and "Can You Deliver" won't be disappointed. And in the following interview, Bush, Vera and Gonzo explain why.
John Bush: The last gig as Armored Saint was Hawaii, with Overkill. We booked the gig, and the funny story about it is, after that, I was going to go to New York to jam with Anthrax and try to write some songs. Everybody was coming back from Hawaii on the same plane except for Gonzo, who was staying in Hawaii with his then-girlfriend. And I didn't want to tell Gonzo I was going to New York to jam with Anthrax and if it worked, I was going to bail. I didn't want to ruin Gonzo's vacation. So Gonzo was very angry at me when he did find out, and he thought I betrayed him. KNAC.COM: Why now for a reunion? Joey Vera: Over the years, mostly from Europe, there seemed to be a demand for it. We got mail, inquiries for interviews. We became like a cult thing after we broke up. Gonzo: I thought that the band broke up for a lot of reasons, but it was untimely, because we had started a new phase, and things were looking up. But things happen for a reason, and at that point, we were tired of fighting an uphill battle. But deep down in my heart, I knew it would come down again to reforming Armored Saint, when the time was right.
John Bush: I'll say this: the coolest thing about Revelation is that for the first time in Armored Saint's career, we did something for US. We did it because we said, "We're going to make music, a record, our way." And we never really did it that way before. As much as we aspired to do that, we never really accomplished it. This is where we're at right now. It's very separate from anything. I don't care if old fans like it. If they think the way I do, they'll love it. For the first time since we were 19, we don't care. If people lose money, I don't care. Our reasons, our attitude, everything was based on our own decisions. That's the honest to God truth. We have a killer chemistry together. We're not perfect; it's imperfect at best. But that's great. Who knows how we'll feel a year from now on this record, but at this point, it sounds like the truest record we've ever made.
JB: In past Armored Saint history, it was like, "Well, our career's at stake!" None of that matters now. All that matters is making a record that we think is good and believable in our eyes. Not to get too heart-warming, but that's the truth. I say this because - Ah, fuck it, in my other band, and at times, in Armored Saint's past, too many things are riding on it. If Revelation flops and sells 10 records, it doesn't matter. JV: Our career was ruined by caring too much. We over-thought everything.
JB: We got thrown into the mish-mash, and that's what kinda fucked it up. Even bands who sell millions of records want to go back to when they were naove, and that's a beautiful thing. And that's where we're at, because we have no choice! Joey said something awesome one day, which kinda freed me up, liberated me. That Armored Saint is like a beer-drinking heavy metal band. And it's really what it is. We always wanted to seem like we were better than that, but we weren't. We're a happy-go-lucky band. But there's a lot of integrity, and I think we're really talented, and it's very genuine. KNAC.COM: And you guys have been friends since you were kids: that must help. JB: Gonzo and Phil are brothers. Joey and Gonzo and I have known each other since we were children in East Los Angeles. That's 27 years. I think that's beautiful. I've known Joey almost 30 years. KNAC.COM: You guys were pretty pure metal - these days, a lot of bands seem embarrassed to recount their metallic exploits of the past.
KNAC.COM: And now, what about live Armored Saint gigs? JV: It'll happen. I think it's kinda scary. I'm probably more scared than John is. KNAC.COM: What's the lyrical difference between Anthrax and Armored Saint? JB: It's where you are in life. JV: Timing and rhythms. In my opinion, and it's an outsider's opinion, because I'm not John, and I'm not in Anthrax, but his approach is going to be different. The rhythms, the melodies, the styles.
JB: I don't want to say I'm so talented that I can have two different "voices" in two bands, but it has a lot to do with people you're working with. With Joey, I bounce off his vibe, and in Anthrax, off Charlie (Benante) and Scott (Ian). The emotions and topics have to do with where you're at. There's a bulk of songs on this record that have to do with my amusement with people's drama. There's song on this record. "Damaged," "Control Issues," "Tension," that have a lot to do with my amusement with the drama people need to have in their lives to keep them going. KNAC.COM: You included? JB: I try to use other people as catalysts, but deep down, maybe it's inside JV: He's gotten a lot better about (drama)! I don't like any drama. Me, I'm kinda like a snail on a log, but every now and then, you just love to stir it up. E-Mail
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Armored Saint Returns To The Forefront Of Metal With A Blistering New Album And A Refreshed Outlook
KNAC.COM: Where was the last Armored Saint gig?
KNAC.COM: What's at stake with Revelation?
JB: The classic show was at Perkins Palace (Pasadena, California) where I wore a suit of armor and one of my friends wore a black suit of armor. And we choreographed a fight, with sound effects that we were totally way ahead of, 'cause we were all anxiety- ridden. Then I "killed" the other guy, and a roadie came and lifted the helmet off my head, then we went into our first song. I sang the whole first song in that suit!