Band:	Armored Saint
Album:	Raising Fear
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	August 1987

01. Raising Fear
02. Saturday Night Special
03. Out On A Limb
04. Isolation
05. Chemical Euphoria
06. Crisis Of Life
07. Frozen Will
08. Legacy
09. Human Vulture
10. Book Of Blood
11. Terror
12. Underdogs

Whenever I'm asked for an example of heavy metal undiluted by sub-genres, I would raise the name Armored Saint. Straight down the middle hard-hitting heavy metal that just wants to get up and rock. Raising Fear is the third album by the band, who are probably one of the most criminally underrated bands in the genre. A solid album that will go a long way in converting anyone who gets to hear its tunes.

Raising Fear is probably the first album by the band that wasn't blighted by the pretty awful production that had hampered the prior two albums; the songs here are given a production that gives them the kick that was lacking before. This extra addition allows songs like "Crisis Of Life" and "Out On A Limb" to power out of the gates and run down anything in their way. The production isn't just geared to raw power though; it allows songs like "Isolation" and "Frozen Will/Legacy" to have an atmospheric feel that adds to their flavour.

Stand out classics on this album have to be the title track, "Book Of Blood" and "Chemical Euphoria", three tracks that will bounce around in your head long after the album has come to an end. The songs are good condensed calling cards of what the band could achieve when everything clicks into place.

Armored Saint are at the top of their game; Prichard offers up some of the best guitar work of his tragically short career here, with "Book Of Blood" featuring some fine guitar work on the six string by the man. Vera and Sandoval work well in tandem, offering a solid rhythm for the guitar to sit atop while also filling out the sound around the guitars. Bush is again the star of the show; his powerful vocals are put front and centre where they spearhead the attack coming out of your speakers.

The only song to fall short would be "Isolation"; it is not a bad song, but while it features nice atmospherics, it doesn't really go anywhere for its duration. The song does sound great and the change of pace is welcome; it's just a shame they can't convincingly pull off what they are clearly aiming for.

The band were unfortunately unable to fully build on the momentum an album of this quality could have offered any band, with Prichard dying three years later (R.I.P.) and the follow-up album Symbol Of Salvation following up the quality of Raising Fear in memoriam to their fallen comrade. Pick it up and put it on if you want a dose of heavy metal that gets back to basics: bass, drum, guitar heroics and someone behind the microphone, Armored Saint did it best.