New ARMORED SAINT - La Raza

Got this yesturday and listened to it twice. I like it but why do the drums so so bad. I thought they recorded this old school? The guitars sound great, but the drums sound like they were programed.

Gilbert wrote:

It's so good that all the old school bands are coming back to teach those new kids how it should be done

I also like the fact that the old school bands are writing music for the fans that have been with them from the beginning. It seems like they've conceded to the fact that they are in their forties, fifties, and sixties, and the times have changed. They're not trying to figure out what the 'kids" might like, they're doing what they know their long time devoted fans will love.

Plus, I bought La Raza yesterday at FYE for $9.99 plus tax. I really like it. Favorite track right now is "Chilled".

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Plus, I bought La Raza yesterday at FYE for $9.99 plus tax.

Ah-haaaa, so the "brick n' mortar" stores do have it. Good to know. Maybe I'll stop tonight on the ride home. I really want this one and don't feel like waiting for a used copy to show up online.

I check with my local indie store to see if they'll have it and if not, special order it through them.

Picked up my copy from Hasting's yesterday. Spinning it now. Sounds great to me!

METAL!

A review from Metal-Archives:

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ARMORED SAINT - La Raza

When a mid-life crisis goes end-life crisis - 50%

Written by autothrall on March 16th, 2010

I'm not sure how one makes the natural transition from an album like Raising Fear or Symbol of Salvation to wind up at something like La Raza, but I have a feeling it has a lot to do with maturity and trying to adapt a tried and tested formula for a new era. That isn't to say Armored Saint have abandoned all of the traits of their better years. John Bush sounds like he's fresh out of the studio for Symbol of Salvation, and the album still has the bluesy swagger that the band first introduced there and the following Revelation, but even those albums had a certain metal kick to them which felt like the band were building on, and not replacing the legacy of their first three albums. With La Raza, aside from a few tracks, I don't really get the impression that it's a metal album so much as a rock record...with slightly more aggressive vocals than usual and an occasional throwback riff. The songs are so intent on having a big chorus hook and atmosphere that the guitars feel a little on the simple side. Examples include "Left Hook from Right Field" with its generic riffing that serves as little more than a dulled foundation for Bush to howl. The bouncing grooves of "Get off the Fence" may bear some similarity to earlier Saint tracks like "Tribal Dance" from Symbol of Salvation, but it doesn't amount to much more than forgettable hard rock. "La Raza" itself is also very groove oriented, though Bush's vocals do shine in places. "Black Feet" is largely blues and funk, and "Little Monkey" has horrible rock/punk riffs that sound like something the Offspring would come up with. "Bandit Country" is another song with a lot of clean guitars and funk swerve, despite the big bluesy guitar solo and the chords that support it. Not every song here is all that bad, though, I liked the clean guitars and symphonic touches that opened the album through "Loose Cannon", which features a melodic rock riff in the verse and a fairly effective multi-layered chorus vocal sequence. Once "Head On" escapes from the gospel intro it does develop some nice dual melodies and grooving metal weight. "Blues" sounds like a decent outtake from Symbol of Salvation, which was a fairly diverse album in its day. But in the end, there are no songs here like "Hanging Judge", "Reign of Fire", "Dropping Like Flies", "Raising Fear", "Out on a Limb", "Warzone", or any of the band's myriad classics. No, this is more like an extended album of tracks similar to "Last Train Home", only not as good. La Raza is a moody record which shows the band at their most versatile, but that's not always a good thing. And this doesn't really add up to the measure of the band's first four classics, nor is it even at the level of its predecessor Revelations from a decade past. I'm certainly happy to have Armored Saint around again, because I enjoy most of their earlier work, and this is where Bush's voice fits in best (his albums with Anthrax were generally pretty miserable, though not always his fault). I'll just have to hang on to the slim hope that the band might release another proper album some day in the vein of Raising Fear or Delirious Nomad, because I'm not really impressed with this save for the few moments it kicks into overdrive and reminds me why I like those old albums. -autothrall

Lame....this record rocks!

http://www.teethofthedivine.com/site/featured/armored-saint-la-raza/

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In a time when other bands their age either seem to lose their way or try to be something they’re not, Armored Saint do neither. They prove that veteran acts can deliver the goods time after time.

S wrote:

Lame....this record rocks!

http://www.teethofthedivine.com/site/featured/armored-saint-la-raza/

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In a time when other bands their age either seem to lose their way or try to be something they’re not, Armored Saint do neither. They prove that veteran acts can deliver the goods time after time.

I agree with you.

Man, maybe i'm simple but this doesn't sound that much different then Symbol to me. Some definite additions here with the choir sound on a song, some more melodic moments but overall this is a great AS record. Don't change on an album, you're rehashing, too much change, you get criticised for not sounding like the past.

I just ordered my copy of this. It'll be my first AS album.

I bought Raising Fear and Symbol of Salvation then never got around to anything else. I plan on ordering this album next week but I'm thinking I need to pick up the rest as well...

Metal Misfit wrote:

I bought Raising Fear and Symbol of Salvation then never got around to anything else. I plan on ordering this album next week but I'm thinking I need to pick up the rest as well...

Yes. Yes you do. Same with you Toho.

It's the natural progression from Revelation to me.

I agree. Every Armored Saint album is essential! I still have a few holes to fill in my collection as well - but this will probably be the year that they get filled!!



Pass the Saint!!!

I hate to say it but I think I agree somewhat with that review you posted Ult. I think its a pretty good album but compared to their older stuff it doesn't come close. The thing that kills me the most on this album is the drumming. Gonzo just sounds so lifeless in his playing. A lot of these songs have some real energy to them and he doesn't come through. The guitars sound great, Bush sounds awesome as usual, hes one of my all time favorites.

Didn't they record this the old way like how Kreator did with their last album? I believe they did so I was hoping for a sound more close to what Symbol was. I wasn't looking for Symbol part II because I liked Revelations, but if it was recorded a certain way why does it sound like it was done on pro tools.

Maybe its me just being picky again as usual hahaha. Who knows. But that review does have a point. Its a great album its just missing that something that they used to have.

This is the only album I have apart from Symbol Of Salvation so I don't have much to compare it to but I do like it quite a bit, though it's not quite the caliber of the forementioned one. I got it for sale at Sam Goody/FYE about a week ago.

My copy came today.

The people saying this isn't metal obviously have a different definition of the term than I do.

DallasBlack wrote:

This is the only album I have apart from Symbol Of Salvation so I don't have much to compare it to but I do like it quite a bit, though it's not quite the caliber of the forementioned one. I got it for sale at Sam Goody/FYE about a week ago.

Dude, pick up "March of the Saint". It's their first album, but it's their best. I am sure you'll love it!!!

I gotta get the new one, I only have March Of The Saint & Raising Fear. I've heard the rest and I need to complete their discography.

akeldama wrote:

I gotta get the new one, I only have March Of The Saint & Raising Fear. I've heard the rest and I need to complete their discography.

"March of the Saint" and "Raising Fear" are my two favorites!!!

I like 'em but I didn't like the Skynyrd cover.

http://www.teethofthedivine.com/site/featured/interview-with-armored-saint/

I can't believe no one has commented on this stupid packaging.

First off, who ever heard of a digipak slipcase? WTF? Secondly, I absolutely hate that the disc is stored in a cardboard envelope. It's only a matter of time until the disc gets scratched from sliding it in and out.

The slipcase is to prevent the digi from unfolding when you don't want it too...plus it has a different cover on the face than the cover inside it (more art)...I actually wish the new Fates Warning reissue had a slipcase over it for that reason...keeps everything tight adn together.

Man, what a bunch of whiny b!+che$...(all the digi haters)...

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Man, what a bunch of whiny b!+che$...(all the digi haters)...

Maybe. But the price of the CDs haven't gone down along with the quality. I think that's the frustration.