01. Close To The Bone
02. Every Man-Any Man
03. Not On Your Life
04. Hit A Moonshoot
05. Buckeye
06. Compromise
07. It's A Buzzkill
08. Throwing Caution To The Wind
09. Ladders And Slides
10. Bottom Feeder
11. Epilogue

Fresh out of the factory.

For the first time in six years, Armored Saint open their factory doors to show the world the latest release that has just come off their production line. While you don't need a golden ticket to enjoy this factory for yourself, nor does it come with oopma loompas, there is some enjoyable music to be discovered.

Nine albums in forty-four years (with a hiatus in-between) is hardly the level of output one would associate with a factory, but when the trade-off has been quality over quantity, its one that is begrudgingly accepted. In Emotion Factory Reset, however, there are signs that the production line is in need of some repairs, or that the quality testing department were asleep at the wheel as Emotion Factory Reset is one of the weakest efforts from the band in a long time.

Perhaps the department was outsourced, much like the album cover department has been, as Armored Saint become the latest in the line of bands to utilise the nascent technology (though as the band stress, the final artwork was made by a digital artist). Much like the artwork, the music shares a similar quality in that something about it just doesn't feel quite right. Emotion Factory Reset isn't a bad album by any means, but it just lacks that spark and illusive quality to really breathe life into the songs.

Something seems to have got lost in the process of transforming tracks like "It's A Buzzkill", "Hit A Moonshot" or "Compromise" from their blueprints, as they either lack components or feel incorrectly assembled. The most evident issues are the choruses, none of which are catchy or provide a needed pop; rather than being the part you anticipate and await, it's a moment you'd largely like to forget. It's not like the band have just forgotten how to do this, as several other songs have good (though admittedly, not great) choruses, they just seem to have waved these through to the detriment of the overall album.

This feeds into the other central issue with Emotion Factory Reset, namely the (audio) production, something of a reoccurring theme throughout the band's career. While far from the worst the band have been victims of (well, except for Vera, he's nigh-on invisible for most of these tracks), the production work doesn't have that vibrancy or pop that enhances passages or moments in a song, particularly choruses. Tracks like "Not On Your Life" manage to be fun, quality tracks despite the production making the chorus sound dry and hollow, rather than explosive and in your face.

With this said, the album is still enjoyable for the most part, with the band producing solid songs and performances that will get your blood pumping. The opening trio are the highlights, with the opening "Close To The Bone" barnstorming out of the gates, and the following "Every Man-Any Man" & "Not On Your Life" sounding like classic Armored Saint. Bush's voice continues to defy age and remains as powerful as it has ever been, basically pulling the likes of "Throwing Caution To The Wind" up from passable to good.

Much like the tortured factory simile running through this review, Emotion Factory Reset is built on good ideas and intentions, but somehow it just doesn't translate to the end product. While it isn't a bad album, it certainly is the weakest from the band in a long time, and one you're likely to relegate to only occasional listens than putting it into regular rotation.

Performance:	8
Songwriting:	6
Originality:	6
Production:	6