American heavy metal stalwarts Armored Saint are set to release their ninth studio album, Emotion Factory Reset, on May 22 via Metal Blade Records. Produced by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston (known for his work with Anthrax and Stone Sour), the record showcases Armored Saint challenging themselves while honoring their legacy.
Vera reflects on the band’s 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. 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.”
Vocalist John Bush adds that the band allowed themselves to explore freely: “When we start coming up with songs, I always say we can do whatever we want. Use all our influences through the years, diverse music that we listen to and love, and let that seep in and bring something new out of us. It leads to something more adventurous.”
Bush also revealed that much of his vocals on the record come straight from demo sessions, preserving raw energy, while Vera emphasizes spontaneity in songwriting: “I try not to overthink and be right where I’m at that time. I really don’t look over my shoulder much, like, ‘what did I do in the past? What’s going on in the next lane?’ Once the ball starts rolling, I just sit back and let it happen.”
Armored Saint‘s Emotion Factory Reset was recorded across several studios including 606 Studios, Secret Hand Studios, Skullseven Studios, Constantine Studios, and Bridge Recording, engineered by Oliver Roman, Bill Metoyer, Joey Vera, and Jason Constantine, and features cover art by DDKing. Pre-orders are available here.
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