Listening to Punching The Sky by Armored Saint brings a life-affirming feeling of joy. It is as if the band has written an album that embodies this quote from Charles Bukowski: “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.” As we all struggle with the effects of the pandemic upon us, the power of the music on Punching The Sky gives the courage to flip the bird to fear and anxiety and live hard and well.
As Armored Saint approaches forty years of making metal music, Punching The Sky marks their 8th full-length studio album. The core of the band remains strong with Joey Vera (bass), Gonzo Sandoval (drums), Phil Sandoval (guitar), Jeff Duncan (guitar), and John Bush (vocals). Joey Vera produced the album with engineering by himself, Bill Metoyer (Skullseven Studios), and Josh Newell (El Dorado Studios).
You know you are in for something special when you hear the pipes calling. In this case uillean pipes calling to your from across a verdant glen. Arpeggios give way to tribal drums as the pipe continues to call in the distance. A pick scrape and the gritty metal guitars join into accent the war drums. A trigger is pulled and Armored Saint are off in a rush with “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”. This tune certainly makes you want to punch the sky and appreciate the rewarding struggle of life.
The first single off the album is up next with “End of the Attention Span”. This topic has reached its apex as we see clearly the addictive nature of social media. The main riff feels like you are tearing down the road full tilt with tires burning the asphalt smooth. While I love the delicious hooks in the chorus, the prize is the guitar solos. Phil and Jeff dive into their solos with gusto. Each of them showcasing evocative licks that capture the acceleration and power of the song.
One of the best songs and the most outside the box for Armored Saint is called “Bubble”. The industrial verse rhythm provides a platform for the guitars and bass to snap out and grab you. As for every song on Punching The Sky, John Bush sounds fantastic. He uses all his range and power to lift the chorus up.
Another song with progressive notes married with a big boot-stomping chorus is “Bark, No Bite”. The intro has this crazy psychedelic intro that morphs into a smooth as glass riff. The bass and drums create an intoxicating groove that provides a sense of floating. Just as you are digging the groove, the chorus slams in with a punch that implies a barking dog. Once again, Jeff and Phil skillfully added their biting solos to enrich the sonic experience.
Even when the subject matter is sobering, Armored Saint’s music can provide a sense of hope. The song “Unfair” is profound and could be thought of as sad. John Bush sings “What was a future, is mere seconds. Unfair, but all you get.” You can translate this into a song about a life cut short. Each time this message is repeated, the song builds up. From a somber whisper to a primal scream the song reaches higher. As the song crests, there is this strange hopefulness. Or perhaps a sense that the cards you have been dealt may suck, but you can still make something out of a bad situation. In a way, isn’t that what punching the sky is all about?
Punching The Sky by Armored Saint is a lifeboat of epic metal music. Every song has that characteristic positivity which brands them as master works of Armored Saint. However, the band isn’t sitting back and creating cookie-cutter music. Instead, Armored Saint continues to explore by taking us on an adventure in sound. A vital musical journey that we need to weather the storm.
