Band:	Armored Saint
Album:	Win Hands Down
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	May 29, 2015
A review by:	ScreamingSteelUS

01. Win Hands Down
02. Mess
03. An Exercise In Debauchery
04. Muscle Memory
05. That Was Then, Way Back When
06. With A Full Head Of Steam
07. In An Instant
08. Dive
09. Up Yours

Armored Saint have had a fairly liminal existence for a while now. After the untimely death of guitarist Dave Pritchard in 1990 and the subsequent release of showstopper Symbol Of Salvation, the band slowly ground to a halt; John Bush got tapped by Anthrax to replace Joey Belladonna, Joey Vera became involved with both Fates Warning AND Arch/Matheos, and Armored Saint fell by the wayside. Now, after a few attempts and a lot of stalling, it seems like they are finally back.

Win Hands Down makes the years disappear, blowing right past 2010's lackluster La Raza and 2000's Revelation into the heart of Armored Saint's glory days. The title track bristles with the kind of confidence and raw energy that have been missing from the heavy metal scene for so long - the kind that only a muscle-bound, no-nonsense, heavy-metal-in-the-biblical-sense band like Armored Saint can provide. John Bush's voice has only toughened with age. He doesn't shoot for the high notes as often, but he never wavers and never loses an ounce of power; he roars every word like a tiger. Bush sings like he's in a street fight, and he only gets more dangerous with each passing year. With Joey Vera's flying fingers dominating the low end with expert bass work, the rhythm section fully backs up every threat made by the other half.

Armored Saint have always separated themselves from the pack mainly through their knack for songwriting and their bare-knuckled attitude. Win Hands Down reflects these strengths as they were best expressed 30 years ago, with songs that fight much harder to distinguish themselves and a genuine sense of triumph in every note. La Raza had its strengths, but in light of this new album, it becomes clear just how much the band needed a real shot in the arm - and, whatever that was, they sure as hell got it since then, because Win Hands Down comfortably surpasses it in every department. It isn't perfect, and the band still have some loosening and tightening to do before they recapture the full effect of Delirious Nomad or Symbol Of Salvation, but tracks like "With A Full Head Of Steam" and "An Exercise In Debauchery" demonstrate that they are closer than they have ever been.

Armored Saint have been "back" for a while now in the sense that they presently exist and occasionally release new material, but Win Hands Down brings them "back" to operational strength and sets them on the track they strayed from so long ago. If they had some kind of a greater comeback strategy in mind, this album could very well be their launching pad.