Criminally overlooked, often considered underrated and going largely unrecognised by the masses, only really sought out and appreciated for those with a finer taste in all things thrash and 80’s metal, Armored Saint are one of the best bands out there still going strong after their conception in the decade which gave us some of the best (and worst) bands to grace the rock and metal landscape.
After reviewing the album Armored Saint put out in June, “Win Hands Down”, which is a solid contender for Album of the Year in 2015, I was offered the chance to pick the brains of Joey Vera, bassist for the band since its formation in 1982. Focusing mainly on the album and the near future, I got to ask Joey what he thought of the finished product, what it was like working on it and if he was in charge of PR for the album release, how would he have marketed it.
Let’s go marching in with the Saint!
AN: First off, fantastic work on the album. Would you say that this is your best release so far?
Joey: Thank you. My opinion is too biased and not very important,
AN: Was there an urge to write an album or was this planned? How was the song writing process, was it easy or drawn out?
Joey: Yes, definitely an urge took place. We gotta feel like writing in order to write good music. The process was both easy and drawn out. We take a long time to write because we only fit it into our daily lives but not the other way around.
AN: Lyrically, “Win Hands Down” is a hard hitting album. To me, it seems like it’s taking a few shots at society today and people’s behaviour. Was this one of the themes of the album or am I way off the mark here?
Joey: Well John has written about this stuff before. But we don’t set out to have any particular theme to our records. They are merely a snapshot of where we we are at that particular time. The difference this time is that John has worn his heart further down his sleeve than before. He’s really letting it go.
AN: The opening track “Win Hands Down” got me from the go with that big sounding intro and those epic harmony guitar lines but one thing which caught me off guard was the slight jazzy/lounge sounding section towards the end. How did that section come about – was it a spur the moment thing or did you always plan to have a slight soft break like that just to really give the epic solo section some real attitude when it kicked back in?
Joey: That section just came to me while I was writing the sections. I love the sling shot effect music can have when you suddenly go from 11 to 2 for a bit and then slam you back in the face. I’ve been into jazz for a very long time and was waiting for the right moment to use it. I think it works well here.
AN: How was working with Pearl Aday on a more metal sounding project compared to the more rock one you worked with her on in Motor Sister?
Joey: It was a blast. I’ve worked with Pearl on many different things but this was fun, just her and I sussing out her part. She’s such a natural and that it made it quite easy. She’s a rocker at heart so was very much in her element.
AN: It’s that time of year us music lovers, reviewers and gig lovers both love and hate – the hectic European summer gigging schedule. You’re playing a few shows with Queensryche and then a slot at Bloodstock open Air in terms of UK appearances. Any plans to tour Europe again come the end of the year or early 2016?
Joey: The only other shows in the EU so far this year is two shoes with Accept in Germany first week of December. Most likely we will be back tho in 2016.
AN: I know the album has only just came out, but what about plans for new material? Is another album in the pipeline at some point or you just gonna tour this one and let it sink in a while longer first?
Joey: No thoughts about that right now. We don’t quite work like that.
AN: Other project talk time. You have Motor Sister going on, with “Ride” released earlier this year. Anything else lined up from Fates Warning or any new groups you might be forming or assisting?
Joey: Fates is writing a new record and hopefully recording by end of this year. Also taking a break from writing in October to do some dates in the US. Motor Sister is playing the Motörhead motor boat in late September. Working on some EU dates in 2016.
AN: Any new releases caught your ear so far this year?
Joey: New Mastodon. Faith No More.
AN: If you had to sell us on “Win Hands Down”, how would you describe it?
Epic Music.
(Interview Fraggle)
https://www.facebook.com/thearmoredsaint
Leave a Reply