Review: Armored Saint, "Win Hands Down"

You may never know how long it’s going to take to get a new Armored Saint record, but you can be sure when it gets here that it will be quality. So it goes with their latest, Win Hands Down.

Armored Saint’s output has been sporadic since 1991’s Symbol of Salvation, arguably their best record. Faced with an uncertain future for Armored Saint following the death of guitarist Dave Prichard from leukemia, vocalist John Bush opted to accept an offer to join thrashers Anthrax following that record. We wouldn’t hear from Saint again until 2000, when the band reunited to record the, in my opinion, highly underrated Revelation.

It was another 10 years (not counting a compilation album) with a lot of ups and downs before La Raza arrived in 2010, but again, it was worth the wait. That brings us to the new record, only five years in the making, and the title track and lead single announces to start the record that this is the same, reliable Armored Saint we know and love.

Saturday Shuffle: Overkill, Behemoth, Mayan, Armored Saint, Maiden

Kind of a heavy theme to this week’s shuffle. Let’s get it going…

Overkill, “Loaded Rack.” From the album ReliXIV (2005). This was a pretty uneven record for Overkill, but “Loaded Rack” is one of the better tracks. It’s got that old-school Overkill feel and a some memorable hooks and melodies.

Review: Anthrax, "Worship Music"

I didn’t have high hopes for this record. First, there was all the drama surrounding it. They bring in new singer Dan Nelson. The album’s recorded and ready to go when Nelson is canned, so it’s shelved. Then, much to my pleasure, John Bush is performing with the band again. But, wait a minute, he doesn’t want to re-record Worship Music because he feels like he doesn’t have any stake in the songs. Then, Anthrax shows up to play the first Big Four show, and who’s on stage with them but 1980s singer Joey Belladonna. He’s happy to re-record the album, and so Anthrax and Belladonna are reunited … again.

Still Spinning: Anthrax, "We've Come for You All"

As I await the release of Anthrax’s Worship Music, the band’s reunion with 1980s singer Joey Belladonna, I’ll try to drown out the soap-opera drama with changing lineups and re-records surrounding it by cranking up their last record — and one of their best — 2003’s We’ve Come for You All.

Don’t get me wrong. I grew up on the 1980s version of Anthrax with Belladonna, and I still love it. But when he exited, and they tapped Armored Saint singer John Bush, the band became something different, and while I know a lot of fans will disagree with me, something better, in my opinion. The Belladonna era of the band was perfect for my teenage years. It was fast, brash and a little cartoonish and goofy. The band with Bush, though, was Anthrax for my adulthood. It was a little slower, a little heavier and a lot more thoughtful. Plus, Bush is just an all-around better singer to my ears. There’s more soul and a greater range of emotion in his voice, and if I’m being honest, I actually preferred Bush’s version of a lot of the Belladonna songs.

Review: Armored Saint, "La Raza"

While I’m thrilled that Anthrax’s Scott Ian came to his senses and reconciled with vocalist John Bush, in a way I’m kind of glad they had the split. As a result, we end up with the first set of new material from Armored Saint since 2000's “Revelation.”

While the outings from Armored Saint have been few and far between since Bush left to join Anthrax in 1994, they’re always worth the wait, and “La Raza” is no exception.

Random rant: The old guy wants back in

So my morning was spoiled by the information that Matt Barlow is back in Iced Earth and Tim Owens is out. I know I'm a few weeks behind on this, but I've been out of the loop due to the holidays. Apparently Barlow decided that he wanted to do some music projects again, and Jon Schaffer, apparently tired of hearing from a certain segment of fans who preferred Barlow, jumped on the chance to get him back.

Which brings me to the point -- sometimes the old guy isn't always better. In this case, I like Barlow and he made some great records with Iced Earth, but Owens owns him vocally. The last two records have had the best vocals of any Iced Earth effort and the remake of the "Something Wicked" trilogy smoked the original.

It's always been a pet peeve of mine when a band has someone better than an old member, then cans them because the old member wants to come back. Anthrax, I believe, ruined the best thing they ever had by reuniting with a guy they already knew was a flake -- Joey Belladonna -- and alienating their best singer, Jon Bush. At the time, they'd just put out one of the best records of their career, "We've Come for You All," an album that rivaled their best output of the pervious lineup, "Among the Living." I've talked with Al Pitrelli several times and have a great respect and appreciation for him, but I still think it was shitty, after he left to join Megadeth, that Savatage canned Jack Frost and rehired him when that incarnation of Megadeth ended. In that case, the band's been dormant since it happened, but it still isn't right.

In this case, Barlow will continue to pursue his law enforcement career (the reason he left Iced Earth to begin with), which Schaffer tells us will make Iced Earth's activities more limited. Great. We lose a great singer to get the old guy back, which also means the band will be touring less and fewer fans will be able to see them live and probably also means less studio output as well. There's a real win-win situation for fans, huh?

I wish I had heard the news prior to releasing my top 10 list for 2007, as it would have likely pushed "Framing Armageddon" a little farther down the list. It's landing at No. 3 was largely due to my anticipation of the second half and what the work as a whole would sound like. That anticipation has been seriously dampened by this turn of events, and I'd probably put the record no higher than 6 or 7 at this point. A two-part story with a different singer on each part? Or maybe Schaffer will re-record "Framing Armageddon" with Barlow, as he's wont to do. That would be a way to offer another delay for the second half, wouldn't it?

I know this shouldn't piss me off this much, but I love this band, and I really love the way they've sounded with Owens. I'm sure Barlow will do just fine like he did before, but I think the next record will suffer for it, at least in my opinion. No matter how good it is, I won't be able to help but think what it might have sounded like.

Review: Anthrax, "Music of Mass Destruction"

Though he's been in the band longer than any other singer, Anthrax is just now getting around to a live album and DVD with John Bush. It was well worth the wait.

In addition to showcasing the band's live show with Bush, it also gives fans the chance to see one of the last Anthrax shows with original bassist Frank Bello, who recently parted ways with the band.

On "Music of Mass Destruction," 'Thrax rips through a collection of songs both new and old with incredible energy.

There are a few stumbling points along the way. "Bring the Noise" really doesn't work without Public Enemy involved, and I still think Bush isn't up to some of the older material because it doesn't really fit his style. That being said, I have to give him credit for the ones he belts out better than the original. "Be All, End All" sounds great with Bush on vocals, and even the classic "I Am the Law" takes on a gruffer, more powerful sound.

Of course, when they rip out newer songs like "Inside Out," "Refuse to be Denied" and "Safe Home," Bush is in his element and the performances are tight all around.

Anthrax also throws out a couple of surprises, going way back to the band's debut album for the bonus track "Metal Thrashing Mad" and whipping out a cover of Metallica's "Whiplash." There's also a nice treat for comics fans on the DVD as artist Alex Ross chats about designing the cover for this album, as well as the band's stellar 2003 release "We've Come For You All." He also talks comics with drummer Charlie Benante and shows off some of his personal collection of memorabilia.

Having had the pleasure of seeing Anthrax live, I know this doesn't compare to the real energy, but it's close - a must-have for thrash fans.

Get "Music of Mass Destruction."

Review: Anthrax, "We've Come For You All"

In the years since their last album, the members of Anthrax have seen their band name become a household word. Unfortunately for them, the word is usually spoken in fear, rather than out of respect for their music.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the threat of biological attack with anthrax bacteria became very real. The band members went through a period of questioning and anger, even briefly considering changing their name. In the end, they decided to remain Anthrax and take all of those frustrations out on their latest album, "We've Come for You All."

The record, released earlier this month, is fully locked into the groove the band has gained since vocalist John Bush came on board in the 1990s. The bashing and speedy riffs in songs like "What Doesn't Die" and "Nobody Knows Anything," may take fans back to the 1980s thrash sound, but those tunes are the exception rather than the rule on this album.

Far more than any other album, "WCFYA" showcases Anthrax's influences. Shades of AC/DC come through in the chorus of "Strap It On," an ode to old school metal. Who vocalist Roger Daltrey guests on "Taking the Music Back." "Cadillac Rock Box," featuring Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dime, is aptly described by drummer Charlie Benante as "Lynyrd Skynyrd meets 1976-1977 Kiss." Throw a touch of ZZ Top in, and you've got the sound of one of the tastiest morsels of feel-good hard rock I've heard in a while.

But it's not just the bands that came before them that influence this album. The insane frenzy of the pre-chorus in "Black Dahlia" even calls to mind their contemporaries, Slayer.

Fans may miss the tongue-in-cheek humor of the past that's lacking on this album, but that's to be expected considering the turmoil the songs grew out of. What it lacks in the fun factor, the album more than makes up for in raw power.

Ultimately, guitarist Scott Ian gives the bottom line on the album - "It sounds like Anthrax."

Indeed it does, but not the thrash-happy Anthrax of the 1980s, nor even the grunge-tainted sound of early '90s Anthrax. Instead it sounds like a growing and evolving organism - a band that remains loyal to its roots, yet at the same time, isn't afraid to try a new approach here and there.

Get "We've Come For You All."