The Metal Saint Tour 2027 – Metal Church with Armored Saint

“Each Armored Saint record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don't think we've ever repeated ourselves,” states bassist Joey Vera.
“Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at.”

“When we start coming up with songs, I always say we can do whatever we want,” vocalist John Bush says. “Use all our influences through the years, diverse music that we listen to and love, and let that seep in and bring something new out of us. It leads to something more adventurous.”

Emotion Factory Reset, the lineup’s ninth full-length studio album since 1984’s March of the Saint, bears out his words, the LP a resurrection of sorts, a tearing down and a rebuilding in 11 songs of diverse musicality and lyrical themes. Produced, as were the previous four albums, by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour) Emotion Factory Reset finds the quintet challenging themselves. Songs like “Close to the Bone,” “Hit a Moonshot” and “Every Man-Any Man” has Saint honoring their past as one of the most respected and recognizable bands in heavy music while making forward-thinking music rooted in the present.

“‘Close to the Bone’ is a slamming hard rock/heavy metal song, but diverse in both the vibe and the way it's arranged. It feels like an Armored Saint song that came out in 2026 and I think that's really important,” Bush says. “The lyrics came from trying to figure out how to work with people who maybe you don't see eye to eye with,” he says, while Vera provided the initial impetus when his wife told him he just might keep some things too private.

“Hit a Moonshot” is a band favorite. A “moonshot” can be a baseball term, and Bush, an avid sports fan, was also thinking about the parallels between sports and entertainment. As well as “people who are kings at what they do, hence the Camelot phrase,” the singer says. “People who just come through, whenever you least expect it. They just keep succeeding.”

“I think the song defines what Armored Saint sounds like now,” Jeff Duncan says. “I really dig it. I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars on everything. My solos were done with a couple different guitars; it’s simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip.” Additionally, “Buckeye” a song with deeply personal lyrics for Bush, is a rare instance of Duncan playing slide guitar to build the song’s mood.

The track “Every Man-Any Man” is a perfect example of how Armored Saint take heavy music to a place few metal bands venture to. While “Any man has his price" may be a familiar phrase, Armored Saint turned the saying on its head to broaden and create “Every Man-Any Man.” The verses, with cool, big, and broad open chords, finds Bush singing around the music. He cites a favorite part of “Any Man”: “I love the bridge where I sing 'I’m like a rouge crazy evil cheating lucky little leprechaun.’ It sounds like some very mischievous character who is looking to come around somebody's world and keep them guarded and keep them on their toes.”

Metal Church return with their 13th studio album, Dead To Rights, scheduled for release on April 10 via Rat Pak Records (America), Reaper (Europe/UK) and Rubicon (Japan). The album marks the first release from the band’s latest lineup, featuring founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof alongside longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, joined by bass icon David Ellefson, powerhouse drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic new vocalist Brian Allen.

From the aggressive opening assault of “Brainwash Game” to the riff-driven finale “My Wrath,” Metal Church prove they still possess the same relentless drive that has earned them fans for over four decades. Tracks such as “Deep Cover Shakedown,” “The Show,” and “Wasted Time” deliver the signature sound the band has long been known for.

The album’s first single, “F.A.F.O.”, was released last November, with its accompanying video surpassing 400,000 views to date. Dead To Rights was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z.

“This new album is very special to me for one reason: the band was over, and I honestly didn’t see it being resurrected. But somehow, it brought itself back to life—again!” exclaims Kurdt Vanderhoof. “I’m incredibly proud of these new songs; they hit hard. Brian Allen brings the classic Metal Church sound to the vocals, and adding a rhythm section with musicians of the caliber of Dave Ellefson and Ken Mary makes this a force to be reckoned with. If you enjoy classic Metal Church, you’re going to love this record.”

One Machine is an international metal band with modern and classic influences, formed by guitarist and songwriter Steve Smyth (Nevermore, Testament, Forbidden).