I had the pleasure of meeting the Bass Player of (Anthrax, Fates Warning and Armored Saint) Joey Vera, so in honor of him August's Band of the Month is Armored Saint and in recognition of their new song entitled: "Loose Cannon"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Armored Saint Releases FREE Demo Download
Los Angeles, CA – July 21, 2009 – Armored Saint is releasing a FREE demo version of a new song titled Loose Cannon. This demo (performed with a drum program) gives you all a glimpse into Armored Saint’s writing process and is also a nice taste of what’s to come on the band’s forthcoming full-length studio release.
The demo for Loose Cannon is available right now Tuesday, July 21 and is available only at the band's MySpace page www.myspace.com/armoredsaint1 and at the Metal Blade Records website www.metalbladerecords.com – FREE download HERE!
And for those of you who will be attending the Rock Gone Wild Festival in Northwood, Iowa on August 23rd, the Saint will be performing this new song Loose Cannon in their set.
Armored Saint has finished up writing and will begin recording in early fall for a spring 2010 release on Metal Blade Records.
Keep up to date on all things Saint at the following locations:
http://www.myspace.com/armoredsaint1
http://www.armoredsaint.com
http://www.metalbladerecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalbladerecords
http://twitter.com/MetalBlade
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Current Line Up:
Gonzo Sandoval - Drums
John Bush - Vocals
Phil Sandoval - Guitars
Joey Vera - Bass
Jeff Duncan - Guitars
Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Gonzo Sandoval (drums) and Phil Sandoval (guitar), and guitarist David Prichard, while still enrolled at South Pasadena High School. Next to join were singer John Bush and bassist Joey Vera. Gonzo Sandoval came up with the name after getting stoned with the other band members and seeing the film "Excalibur" at a theater in Monterrey Park. Armored Saint recorded a five song demo that landed the song "Lesson Well Learned" on the compilation album Metal Massacre II. Three of these demo songs were then used for the band's self-titled EP on Metal Blade Records in 1983. The group then signed with Chrysalis Records in 1984.
Armored Saint released their 1984 full length debut album March of the Saint followed by 1985's Delirious Nomad. The debut album yielded a minor MTV hit with "Can U Deliver?". After the release of Delirious Nomad, guitarist Phil Sandoval left the group to explore other possibilities. Their third album, Raising Fear, was recorded by the remaining four members of the band. Unhappy with their lack of success on the Chrysalis label, Armored Saint returned to Metal Blade in 1989.
Soon after the release of Armored Saint's first live album Saints Will Conquer in 1989, the band added Jeff Duncan formerly of the L.A. club band Odin as second guitarist. While writing and recording rough four-track demos for their next album, guitarist Dave Prichard was diagnosed with leukemia. Prichard succumbed to the disease before recording sessions for Symbol of Salvation began. After a brief hiatus, Phil Sandoval returned to the band after Prichard's passing. The following year Symbol of Salvation was released to widespread critical and commercial success. It was dedicated to the spirit and memory of Dave Prichard, whose solo performance on the four-track demo recording of the song "Tainted Past" was used for the album.
Following the successful Symbol of Salvation tour, John Bush was offered the lead singer position in the thrash metal band Anthrax. Unsure of Armored Saint's future, Bush accepted the job. The remaining members decided to call it quits and Armored Saint was officially disbanded.
After Armored Saint disbanded, Joey Vera kept busy playing with such bands as Fates Warning, Lizzy Borden and Chroma Key. He released a solo album in 1994 and started a successful second career as a producer and engineer.
Gonzo and Phil Sandoval formed a new band called Life After Death, a song oriented rock outfit influenced greatly by the legendary band Thin Lizzy.
In 1999, with Anthrax on temporary hiatus, John Bush and Joey Vera decided to reform Armored Saint. The entire Symbol of Salvation lineup returned to the studio, and in 2000 the album Revelation was released. The album was a resurrection of the classic sound of Armored Saint. It features the band's first song with Spanish lyrics, "No Me Digas," originally conceived by John Bush and Gonzo Sandoval, and then revamped by Joey Vera. A small club tour opening for Dio and Lynch Mob followed.
The following year, the band released Nod to the Old School, a collection of rarities, demos and outtakes (many from the Prichard years), plus a few new tracks. Soon after, John Bush returned to the studio with Anthrax and Armored Saint was once again placed on hiatus.
In 2004 Joey Vera joined Anthrax on a temporary basis to replace bassist Frank Bello. Early in 2005, Anthrax's Scott Ian announced that their "Among The Living" lineup was reforming, leaving the membership of Bush and Vera undetermined. Bush stated his involvement with Anthrax was over; new Anthrax member Dan Nelson took over vocal duties in 2007. This move gave hope to many that Armored Saint would once again start recording. A one-off show with the Revelation lineup took place in 2005, and in 2006 the band embarked on a new tour.
As part of their 20th anniversary and continuing celebrations, Metal Blade released a special edition of Symbol of Salvation. Also reissued was the band's long out of print live video A Trip Thru Red Times.
On their site, currently it says that they will be back with some new material in 2009.
