Year: 2021
Total Time: 01:24:46
Label: Metal Blade
For those who do not know ARMORED SAINT at all, this is an American band that started in the early 80’s to play violent-genuine US HEAVY/POWER METAL but with more origins in HAIR METAL, AOR maybe a little BLUES but definitely very HARD ‘N ‘HEAVY! In a free translation, one would characterize them – let me use the term – the “metallic MOTLEY CRUE of the next door”, since the band is consisted of unique talents (from back then until today) and simple personalities, such as the frontman of the band John Bush. We are talking about the former ANTHRAX’s singer, with whom they’ve released the amazing album “Sound of the White Noise” and almost – oh yes – singer of METALLICA, when they were looking to fill the position of Hetfield, due to the insecurity of the latter. Also, the other big personality Joey Vera (former FATES WARNING) is on the bass as a founding member and now he is the leader of the band.
After a stack of classic albums such as “March of the Saint”, “Delirious Nomad”, “Raising Fear”, “Saints Will Conquer” they tried to find significant recognition and consolidation, but in vain, until that time has arrived, which along with the success brought ups and downs for them. This was in the year 1991, when the “Symbol of Salvation” was released! Their most successful-commercial album! So, 30 years later, on the occasion of this official live release, we now talk again about this great moment in the history of the band, but also of the hard music that we love to listen!
It is accepted that every band has the right to be proud and to have a serious reason to record their swan song live. At that time, however, the release of the album left a bittersweet feeling of dissatisfaction, due to a series of events that had occurred, such as the death of the guitarist Dave Prichard, the problems of finding a major record company and then, the dissolution of the band itself. As a result, ARMORED SAINT did not officially embrace the above assumption.
Nevertheless, the secret desire of the band and of its fans was to do something like this. They did the right thing, because the album is AMAZING!!! The sound and the performance are at unimaginable heights, in this album, that I personally count it, in the top 10 of the classic HARD ‘N’ HEAVY METAL releases! Do you want melodies? Do you want power? Passion perhaps? Inspiration? Nostalgia? Everything is there and everything is at its maximum! I have to mention this, even if it sounds cliché… ARMORED SAINT is going through a second youth! Strong proof of this, is their appearance in Athens two years ago at Up the Hammers fest in Gagarin. Those of us who were there, lived great moments and surely the memory of their excessive enthusiasm on stage has remained indelible. Similarly, the atmosphere of “Symbol of Salvation Live” takes you directly to such an image and situation! In addition, the lost treasures of that era, such as the five Demo tracks and a rare recording of the self-titled song reach a total amount of nineteen tracks (available only in Digital/Vinyl edition), giving definitely an extra bonus to this circulation. A smart move by the Americans, at the correct moment, offering us this really satisfying release, which is addressed not only to the die hard fans of ARMORED SAINT, who need a unique audiovisual experience , but also to those who would like to meet the band for the first time and get a strong taste from them.
Rating: N/A
Editor: Nikos Mathiopoulos
Related Link: ARMORED SAINT – Official Page
