Armored Saint | ‘La Raza’
With this being Armored Saint’s first studio album in a decade, you’d be forgiven for expecting something along the lines of the classic “March Of The Saint” or “Symbol Of Salvation” or indeed any of the well regarded metal history the band have, but with “La Rasa”, something is badly missing. And after a couple of tracks, it becomes painfully clear what that is. It’s the entire past two decades.
“La Rasa” sounds as if it was recorded in 1992 just after Ugly Kid Joe left the studio. It’s that early 90s USA hard rock sound that never develops into metal, with baseball caps firmly pointed backwards and Bermuda shorts to denote rock ability.
When you have John Bush as a singer, vocals shouldn’t be a downside to an album. However, despite the Pantera-esque shouts and growls on display, it sounds as if he merely phoned in the vocal lines. He shows little variation or heart, which is quite a feat, as he’s shouting his bollocks off most of the time, but there seems to be absolutely zero passion in it all.
In fact, the only song where he puts a bit of emotion into his voice is ‘Little Monkey’, and it’s the only track that stands out as he actually sings instead of shouts.
Musically, it’s incredibly varied from blues to rock to even a dose of Red Hot Chili Peppers bass-slapping style funk at one low point; but nothing sticks in the ears of the listener at all. It’s hard to comprehend – every track is different, yet every song sounds the same, and there’s no escaping the thought that this is the album they meant to make after “Symbol Of Salvation”.
It would have fit the timeline, and most certainly would have matched up to its peers of the time. They’ve even used the same tribal instruments that other bands used at that time – think Poison’s “Native Tongue” as an example.
I get the notion that Armored Saint 2010 would fit perfectly into a 90s bill of banality with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. It’s that type of utterly boring music fawned over by those of a questionable musical taste.
The cover art is a real let down too, considering the range of cool covers they’ve had in the past; but this is in one way a blessing. They could have stuck with the 90s theme and used a bouffant haired airbrushed photo of themselves as the cover. Considering Armored Saint’s stellar back catalogue, “La Rasa” is a total let down.
1.3 /5 - Dónal McBrien ::: 28/03/10
March 28th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Kappoow! That’s a pretty damning review. I’ve really enjoyed the couple of listens I’ve had so far. Sure, it’s no ‘Symbol Of Salvation’ but it’s an awful lot better than the crappy ‘Revelation’ album.
March 28th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
I think its bloody great. Its still very much armored saint. They used tribal instruments on symbol of salvation, you can hardly slag a band for sticking to what they know - look at some of the retro nwobhm stuff that is being praised round these parts - some of it is great whilst some of it should never entered a studio. The Saint are still viable.
March 29th, 2010 at 4:20 am
“I get the notion that Armored Saint 2010 would fit perfectly into a 90s bill of banality with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden”
Are you for real? How on earth can you go from comparisons to Ugly Kid Joe to Soundgarden? Seriously, that’s bollocks.
March 29th, 2010 at 9:58 am
It’s a boring album, barring one track. Simple as that. And if you don’t think Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are the epitome of banality, I suggest a taste in music transplant.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Soundgarden were a great band - you really cannot argue with badmotorfinger. To say otherwise is just ridiculous
March 29th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
I hath deemed them to be rubbish. And lo, it came to pass, they were known as rubbish.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
You talketh out of one’s hole
March 29th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
dunno about armoured saint but agreed about soundgarden.shite talk,donal.
March 29th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Ye olde shite about Soundgarden undermineth thee.
March 29th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
an unduly harsh review there donal! i really enjoyed it - i got the impression that it’s the kinda album the band were happy & comfortable writing…
March 29th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
I just feel they took the easy option Dee. There’s literally nothing that has stuck in my head after even after a few listens, barring the hook-laden ‘Little Monkey”, and even it has utterly crap lyrics.
They’re capable of much better.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, in their prime, were fantastic bands.
Reviews mean nothing anyway….especially on here. I mean, anyone could be picked to write reviews on this site (or so it seems) so I don’t see what qualifies them at all. No offence to you, Donal.
March 30th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
“I get the notion that Armored Saint 2010 would fit perfectly into a 90s bill of banality with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.”
Good Lord, is this another throwaway comment based on ‘I heard the first 30 seconds of superunknown and it was shite’ or have you ever actually listened to an entire soundgarden or pearl jam album?
March 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I mean, anyone could be picked to write reviews on this site (or so it seems)
H, that’s an absolutely stunning comment. There have been roughly twelve people in ten years. Please wind it in.
March 30th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Yeah, that was a bit daft. As far as I can tell there are only 4-5 full time reviewers on the site these days. The majority of the reviews are a quality read, whether or not I agree with them. There’s no point damning all of them due to one harsh, controversial comment.
March 30th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
‘Wind it in’. Fuck off Ciaran, will you?
March 30th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
What I meant was that I simply don’t see why people should pay attention to a review when it could have been someone else off the forum that was picked to do it….so it’s just a forum user’s opinion being highlited at the end of the day.
In essence, reviews mean fuck all and should continue to mean fuck all to people intelligent enough to make their own mind up on an album.
March 30th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
“Reviews mean nothing anyway….especially on here.”
Just saddening that you take such a dim view of a site that’s assisted your own efforts for years bro.
I dont agree with the review’s comment on this occasion either - but to criticise MI’s work as a whole just seems a bit rum, to be honest.
March 30th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that….was badly worded. I meant I take less notice of reviews from people I know, which may be silly in itself but tends to be how I am. I didn’t mean the site in itself at all, Ciaran. Apologies for it looking like that. MI is of course a huge promo tool for me and I wouldn’t be so dumb as to shit on it, even if that was how I felt about the site a whole (which it isn’t).
Anyway, bottom line is that Donal’s talking shite if he thinks Soundgarden (especially) were banal in their prime
March 30th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
“have you ever actually listened to an entire soundgarden or pearl jam album?”
Yes. I’ve heard all Soundgarden’s 90s albums and the first 3 Pearl Jam albums when they came out. Thought they were boring then and still find them boring now. And a live gig with both bands would bore the arse off me.
Unreal amount of people here getting their knickers in a twist over a musical opinion.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Good good. Now the air’s clear, we can all concentrate on the real problem - getting Donal laid.
Sorry, I mean taste in music of course.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
p.s. the actual album here IS trunks.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Well, I can agree about the live part anyway….whatever about Pearl Jam, Soundgarden were an awful live band. Only saw them once and by fuck they were shit….by all accounts, it wasn’t an off night either.
March 30th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Armoured Saint are a band that I have never heard and probably never will as I have absolutely no interest in them but that Soundgarden statement is way off the mark. Even Pearl Jam, who I never personally got in to, deserve a bit more credit I reckon. Bad Donal.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
“Yes. I’ve heard all Soundgarden’s 90s albums and the first 3 Pearl Jam albums when they came out. Thought they were boring then and still find them boring now.”
Surely if someone is going to write reviews on MI, their tastes should be largely in line with the readership. I would guess that 70% of MI users at the very least respect the two bands in question and will therefore instantly disregard this review. So I’m trying to figure out who the review is aimed at? Bottom line is that whilst this AS album is far from brilliant, the majority of readers would agree that it warrants a higher rating than given here.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
So, in essence, your argument is if a reviewer doesn’t like two bands other people like, his opinions and reviews are invalid?
And the reason for the low mark has been stated. They’re capable of so much more, it sounds dated as hell, and the vocals are passionless.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:45 pm
My argument is that in referring to music that the majority of this site’s readership like as “utterly boring music fawned over by those of a questionable musical taste”, you’ve alienated the majority of the readership.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I would be appalled to see the “alienated majority” take such umbrage from a review of an album frankly. But yeah, the less Pearl Jam fans on this site, the better really. If they’re as weak willed as you make them out to be, they’re not cut out for a metal lifestyle.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Your misreading of my point probably says more than I can. Try the blue crayon for your next review.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Bully for you Kohoutek. Away and cry over some more grunge.
April 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
ah donal,just stop will ya!?the fact ya even called them grunge shows your talking through your hoop.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Come on Donal dont be taking the more metal than thou stance on this. There are plenty of eejits round here with that attitude without you adding to it.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:47 pm
What exactly is a “metal lifestyle”?
April 1st, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Have you not seen Donal’s sword?
April 1st, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Ed, I’m referring to metalheads in it for the long run, warts and all, as opposed to the wimps and poseurs who’ll follow the trend and run away at the first hint of criticism.
If people are so put out at me slagging off bands they like that I find crap, then metal is not for them.
And as for the majority argument, the majority of metalheads in Ireland, and statistically on here, are death metal heads. So the review would have gotten a lower mark, and the whole Pearl Jam/Soundgarden/Alice In Chains style grungy bollocks would have gotten a fiercer slagging if I was ever weak enough to feel I had to pander to a perceived crowd.
Which I don’t. I write reviews from the heart, target audience myself. As every reviewer should do.
Otherwise what the hell’s the point? “I hate this album, but a certain number of you might like it, so actually buy it, it’s class.”
Reviews are one person’s opinion. Man up and deal with it, and quit fretting about what others may think. It’s your musical taste, nobody else’s.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 am
A decent critic should be able to step outside the realms of personal taste and avoid taking pot shots at other bands. The Pearl Jam /Soundgarden comment is absolutely laughable, to me Ten and Superunknown are as important as Reign in Blood and Master Of Puppets.
As for the Armoured Saint album, I think the critic is dreadfully harsh here, La Raza is by no means their best, but there are enough good tracks on it to warrant a few spins.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:52 am
Your target audience is yourself? Am I missing something here?
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I’m referring to metalheads in it for the long run, warts and all, as opposed to the wimps and poseurs who’ll follow the trend and run away at the first hint of criticism.
If people are so put out at me slagging off bands they like that I find crap, then metal is not for them.
What in the name of good fuck are you blethering on about?
April 3rd, 2010 at 2:04 am
What a tragedy.
A perfectly good review, well constructed, marred by some halfwits picking up a sentence about Pearl Jam and Sondgarden and flogging it to death.
He stated his reasons for not liking the Armored Saint release. If you don’t agree, deal with it. Get a life. Be Metal. Take it on the chin.
As if you’re going to (or not going to) buy the CD on the basis of this review anyway.
Moaning little bitches.
Chris and Ed would be ashamed of you.
April 3rd, 2010 at 2:06 am
Apologies to all the Soundgarden fans for mis-spelling the band name in the previous post.
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:25 am
So no point in challenging reviews or discussing them? Be metal? Someone else who thinks they are more metal than thou - back under your rock fucko
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I’m baffled that so many people have taken such umbridge with Donal’s remark about 2 bands which he dislikes and thus naturally uses as negative comparisons. So fucking what. I wouldn’t mind, but some of the posts here HAVE NOT been critiques of the actual review and album in question. Rather, whingers have got their back up cos they like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam and Donal doesn’t and consequently attacked Donal as if he had personally insulted them. Personally I love Soundgarden and despise Pearl Jam but I’m glad Donal expressed his opinion - I’m sick of reading bland press release-style reviews (not on MI mind). It’s the chap’s opinion, it’s not gospel and so forgetting all this “being metal” shtick; stop making a mountain out of a mole-hill. The album’s pants regardelss of the veracity of a sideways comment.
April 4th, 2010 at 11:33 am
One hell of a load of bollox being talked here, going to have to get the ‘Saint album now to see what all the fuss is about…. and i’ve never owned a ‘Saint album, so i’ll soon know if its good/bad or indifferent.
As for Pearl Jam and Sound Garden, certainly not my taste in music at all by any stretch of the imagination, but to slate them hahahaha……. no serriously if you are going to review albums on here with any sort of credibility you gotta wind it in!
April 4th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
In fairness Foggy, I’m no fan of Pearl Jam myself- I think they have a few good songs but I wouldn’t buy an album by them- but to write them off as being shite is a bit much. I don’t really give that much of a fuck but I just think it is a bit of an absurd statement.
April 4th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
It certainly was a bold statement. I just think that some of the reactions have been a bit over the top with all that spake about “target audiences” what a critic should do, etc. At the end of the day it was an accurate review of the album itself.
April 6th, 2010 at 11:06 am
took the time to get my hands on this album, actually its perfectly acceptable, decent production, good songs, no filler tracks and sounds just like the very few other Armored Saint songs ive heard, doubt it will be in my top 10 of all time, or even spun that ofter, however if you are an Armored Saint fan i reckon you’ll like it…..
April 6th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Baggy, 2 days ago you never even owned or heard an Armored Saint album. What on earth makes you think an Armored Saint fan would trust your opinion over Donal’s?? Hell of a load of bollox indeed.
April 9th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
How many years of buying / listening / attending gigs constitutes being in it for the long haul? Just wondering like.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Interesting perspective there Bane…. any enough of this, im off to get a few Maiden tickets instead