Heavy metal stalwarts Armored Saint have dropped a new single, “Hit A Moonshot.” This track gives us a taste of their upcoming full-length album, Emotion Factory Reset, which is set to hit on May 22nd via Metal Blade Records.
The band calls “Hit A Moonshot” a favorite. Vocalist John Bush, a big sports fan, explained the song’s title ties into baseball jargon for a long home run. But it’s more than just that.
“It’s like you knocked something out of the park,” Bush elaborates. “I use a lot of sports analogies because I love sports. Sports IS entertainment…’Hit A Moonshot’ is inspired by the people who keep landing on their feet. Like, no matter what the fuck this person does… Some people just get lucky. This applies to anyone. And landing on your feet is commendable. So, I’m busting balls, but I’m also giving accolades. Sometimes people can do that all the way to their grave. Then there are other people who are so good or talented or creative, and they struggle forever. I don’t think life is balanced all the time, and I don’t think it’s fair.
It has a ferocious riff, cool tempo changes, scorching leads, huge chorus with lots of backing vocals. We love Queen and The Sweet! It’s a cool breakdown with an epic ending. Once again, it sounds just like ARMORED SAINT.”
Bassist Joey Vera shared some history on the track’s beginnings:
“The intro riff is an echo of a memory from age 17 when I was in a garage band in Los Angeles. After I came up with this new version, the familiarity of it revealed itself once I stood back and listened. The riff is very different from the original one but there’s no doubt the feel and vibe has stuck with me ever since then. I added a half-time feel to the chorus to steer the arrangement away from predictability. It feels like Classic SAINT to me.”
Guitarist Jeff Duncan kept it simple when talking gear for the new track:
“I think the song defines what ARMORED SAINT sounds like now. I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars on everything. My solos were done with a couple different guitars; it’s simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip.”
About Emotion Factory Reset
Emotion Factory Reset marks Armored Saint’s ninth studio album since 1984’s March Of The Saint. It’s described as a “resurrection of sorts,” with eleven diverse tracks. Joey Vera produced the album, as he has for the band’s last four records, and Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour) handled the mixing. DDKing designed the cover art.
The record aims to challenge the quintet, with songs like “Close To The Bone,” “Hit A Moonshot,” and “Every Man-Any Man” nodding to their past while pushing forward. John Bush emphasized the band’s approach:
“When we start coming up with songs, I always say we can do whatever we want. Use all our influences through the years, diverse music that we listen to and love, and let that seep in and bring something new out of us. It leads to something more adventurous.”
Vera echoed this sentiment:
“Each ARMORED SAINT record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don’t think we’ve ever repeated ourselves. Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at.”
The album title itself came from guitarist Phil Sandoval, who sees “Emotion Factory Reset” as a way “to reset yourself back to clarity. Take a pause and breathe before you respond or react.” Drummer Gonzo Sandoval tied it to a global perspective, suggesting a need to “realign, reimagine, reset for our better selves.”
Pre-Order Details
Emotion Factory Reset will be available on CD digipack and digital formats. There’s also a range of vinyl color variants, including Amber Marble, Orange and Red Marble, Citron Smoke, 180g Black, Beige Gray Marbled, Clear Black Gold Smoke, and Clear Gold Splatter. European editions include a bonus track, “One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison),” on CD and a special 7-inch vinyl with the LP. You can find all pre-orders at metalblade.com/armoredsaint.
Special Events
Fans in Europe can attend a free listening party on May 21st at Cafe Nord in Essen, Germany, where the band will be present to meet fans, play the new album, and sign purchases. This will be followed by an Emotion Factory Reset record release show at Rock Hard Festival on May 22nd.
Armored Saint’s current lineup includes John Bush (Vocals), Joey Vera (Bass), Jeff Duncan (Guitars), Gonzo Sandoval (Drums), and Phil Sandoval (Guitars).
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