ARMORED SAINT vocalist John Bush has expressed deep pride in the band's upcoming ninth studio album, scheduled for an April release via Metal Blade Records. "I'm really proud of it. It's a great record," Bush stated enthusiastically in a recent interview, offering fans a tantalizing glimpse into what the veteran heavy metal outfit has been crafting behind closed doors.
The singer highlighted the album's remarkable diversity, noting that the band deliberately incorporated different instrumentation and took creative risks with their arrangements that they might not have attempted earlier in their career. Bush described the record as "a little continuation of what we've done but also sounds kind of different at the same time," suggesting an evolution that respects ARMORED SAINT's roots in classic American heavy metal while pushing into new sonic territory.
ARMORED SAINT have long occupied a unique position in the metal landscape. Emerging from the Los Angeles scene in the early 1980s alongside peers like METALLICA and SLAYER, the band carved out their own path with a sound rooted in traditional heavy metal but infused with a gritty street-level energy. Bush himself became one of the most respected vocalists in the genre, famously fronting ANTHRAX for a period in the 1990s before returning to ARMORED SAINT full-time.
With Jay Ruston — known for his work with STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX, and STEEL PANTHER — handling mixing duties, the album's sonic quality is expected to be top-tier. Ruston's ability to capture both heaviness and clarity makes him an ideal fit for a band that values both power and nuance in their songwriting.
The upcoming record follows 2020's "Punching The Sky," which was well-received by critics and fans alike. If Bush's enthusiasm is any indication, ARMORED SAINT are poised to deliver one of the standout traditional metal releases of 2026, reminding the world that this veteran act still has plenty of fire left in them.