On Punching The Sky, their eighth album, ARMORED SAINT - veterans of the American metal scene since the early 1980s - are playing harder than ever. The songs radiate versatility and an attitude that fans of the band expect, but also mark another step forward. "We wanted to write really good music," says bassist Joey Vera. "Sure, that seems obvious, but that's our main goal. We've been able to free ourselves from expectations that other bands our age and status might cause difficulties, and now we live in a comfort zone where we can be ourselves. Today, in contrast to our early career, we enjoy this freedom, can take risks and play exactly the music we want to hear ourselves. This album reflects where we are at this moment. From the explosive opener 'Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants' to the last rough riff of the concluding 'Never You Fret', the group never lets up. The record is so urgent and powerful that it can only be located in the present, and is unmistakably the joint effort of Vera, guitarists Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan, drummer Gonzo Sandoval and vocalist John Bush. "As a band that started around 40 years ago, you have to work even harder when you're making a new album," explains the frontman. "You definitely don't want to come across as if you're just playing down your shoe to have an excuse to tour. Albums don't fade away; they outlast us, so each one has to stand up for itself.
