Photo credit: Travis Shinn
Los Angeles heavy metal veterans Armored Saint drop the new single “Hit a Moonshot” from their ninth studio album, Emotion Factory Reset, out May 22 via Metal Blade Records. Stream it now and pre-order below.
“Hit a Moonshot,” directed by My Good Eye: Music Visuals, draws its title from baseball; a moonshot is a home run launched at a high angle and distance, and vocalist John Bush uses the imagery to examine the unpredictability of luck and talent. “It’s inspired by the people who keep landing on their feet,” Bush says. “Some people can do that all the way to their grave. Then there are other people who are so good, talented, or creative, yet they struggle forever. I don’t think life is balanced all the time, and I don’t think it’s fair.” Musically, he points to Queen and The Sweet as reference points: “It has a ferocious riff, cool tempo changes, scorching leads, huge chorus with lots of backing vocals, it sounds just like Armored Saint.”
Bassist and producer Joey Vera traces the song’s intro riff to a garage band he played in at seventeen in Los Angeles: “The familiarity of it revealed itself once I stood back and listened. It feels like classic Saint to me.” Guitarist Jeff Duncan kept it direct: “I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars. My solos were done with a couple of different guitars, simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip.”
Emotion Factory Reset is Armored Saint’s ninth studio album since 1984’s March of the Saint. Produced by Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston, known for his work with Anthrax and Stone Sour, the album was recorded across 606 Studios, Secret Hand Studios, Skullseven Studios, Constantine Studios, and Bridge Recording. It features cover art by DDKing and arrives on CD digipack with a 20-page booklet, digital, and multiple vinyl variants. A European edition CD adds the bonus track “One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison)” alongside a special gatefold LP edition with a 7″ vinyl, etching, poster, and slipmat.
The band hosts a free listening party on May 21 at Cafe Nord in Essen, Germany, where fans can meet the band, hear the album, and get their copy signed. An Emotion Factory Reset record release show follows at Rock Hard Festival on May 22. Armored Saint has confirmed performances spread throughout the Spring and Summer months.
LINE-UP
John Bush — vocals
Joey Vera — bass
Jeff Duncan — guitars
Phil Sandoval — guitars
Gonzo Sandoval — drums
