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ARMORED SAINT – SYMBOL OF SALVATION
1991 Metal Blade Records
Armored Saint’s SYMBOL OF SALVATION is without a doubt one of the greatest Heavy Metal albums ever recorded. Period. Say it loud, say it proud. I have loved this album since it was released in 1991. It grew and grew on me over the years and I came to realize just how great it was. S.O.S. is a landmark in Heavy Metal music. The fact that it ever got made is amazing. Armored Saint never received the respect they deserved on Chrysalis Records and were dropped from the label in the late ‘80s. Determined and hungry, the band recorded an impressive set of demos and shopped them around to different labels. Disaster struck when guitarist Dave Prichard died of leukemia. However, the strength of their demos won them a deal with Metal Blade. The band recruited two guitarists to replace him and then spent months recording S.O.S. with producer Dave Jerden, as a tribute to their fallen guitarist. The results are magical. John Bush’s masterful raspy voice is perfect. Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval provide the amazing guitars. Gonzo’s drumming is inspired and bassist Joey Vera is in top form. (Joey has proven his talent time and time again over the years through playing in other bands and producing albums.)

Every song on S.O.S. is a masterpiece. From the opening punch of “Reign of Fire,” to the bitterness of “Dropping Like Flies,” to the power of “Last Train Home,” Armored Saint top everything they have recorded previously. Favorites like “Tribal Dance” ponder the issue of drug trafficking and the swagger of “The Truth Always Hurts” follows. The melancholy of the ballad “Another Day,” brings a moment of inner reflection. Next comes the amazing title track. A true classic. Other classic headbangers like “Hanging Judge,” “Warzone,” and “Burning Question” follow. The album closes strongly with “Tainted Past” and the truly scathing “Spineless.” The band were able to lift Dave Prichard’s solo from “Tainted Past” off of the demo and get it onto the final album. Very cool.

This album has been re-released in 2003 as an impressive 3-CD box set version, complete with Demos, Videos, and Interviews, because Brian Slagel and Metal Blade know how important this album and band are. It's amazing how accurately Armored Saint were able to duplicate the demos on the final recording. This is a must have. SYMBOL OF SALVATION is the very definition of Mandatory Metal!

DISCOGRAPHY:

Armored Saint (EP) (1983)
March of The Saint (1984) Chrysalis
Delirious Nomad (1985) Chrysalis
Raising Fear (1987) Chrysalis
Saints Will Conquer (Live) (1988) Metal Blade
Symbol of Salvation (1991) Metal Blade
Revelation (2000) Metal Blade
Nod To The Old School (2001) Metal Blade
A Trip Through Red Times (DVD) (2003) Metal Blade
Symbol of Salvation (Special 3-Disc Edition) (2003) Metal Blade
by Dr. Metal
Click here to visit The Official Armored Saint website!
Click here to buy the 3-CD Box Set of Symbol of Salvation from The End Records-FREE SHIPPING!