Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil and Gonzo Sandoval, and guitarist David Prichard, while attending Woodrow Wilson High School. Next to join were singer John Bush and bassist Joey Vera. Gonzo Sandoval came up with the name after getting stoned with the other band members and seeing the film "Excalibur" at a theater in Monterey Park. Armored Saint recorded a five song demo that landed the song "Lesson Well Learned" on the compilation album "Metal Massacre II". Three of these demo songs were then used for the band's self-titled EP on Metal Blade Records in 1983. The group then signed with Chrysalis Records in 1984.
Armored Saint released their debut album "March of the Saint" in 1984 followed by 1985's "Delirious Nomad". The debut album yielded a minor MTV hit with "Can U Deliver?". After the release of "Delirious Nomad", Phil Sandoval left the group. Their third album, "Raising Fear", was recorded by the remaining four members. Unhappy with their lack of success on the Chrysalis label, Armored Saint returned to Metal Blade in 1989. Soon after the release of their first live album "Saints Will Conquer". Later that same year the band added Jeff Duncan formerly of the L.A. club band Odin as second guitarist.
While writing and recording rough four-track demos for their next studio album, Dave Prichard was diagnosed with leukemia. Prichard succumbed to the disease before recording sessions for "Symbol of Salvation" began. After a brief hiatus, Phil Sandoval returned to the band to replace Prichard. The following year, "Symbol of Salvation" was released to widespread critical success. It was dedicated to the spirit and memory of Dave Prichard, whose solo on the demo recording of the song "Tainted Past" was used on the album.
Following the successful "Symbol of Salvation" tour, John Bush was offered the position of lead vocalist in the very successful thrash band Anthrax. Unsure of Armored Saint's future, Bush accepted the job. The remaining members declined to continue, and Armored Saint was officially disbanded.
After Armored Saint disbanded, Joey Vera kept busy playing with such bands as Fates Warning, Lizzy Borden and Chroma Key. He released a solo album in 1994 and started a successful second career as a producer and engineer.
Gonzo and Phil Sandoval formed a new band called Life After Death, a song oriented rock outfit influenced greatly by the legendary band Thin Lizzy.
In 1999, with Anthrax on temporary hiatus, John Bush and Joey Vera decided to reform Armored Saint. The entire "Symbol Of Salvation" lineup returned to the studio and in 2000 the album "Revelation" was released. It included the band's first song with Spanish lyrics, "No Me Digas". A small club tour opened for Dio and Lynch Mob followed.
The following year, the band released "Nod To The Old School", a collection of rarities, demos and outtakes (many from the Prichard years), plus a few new tracks.Soon after, John Bush returned to the studio with Anthrax, and Armored Saint was on indefinite hiatus.
in 2004, Joey Vera re-joined Bush in Anthrax on a temporary basis, replacing bassist Frank Bello. In early 2005, Anthrax's Scott Ian announced that their classic "Among The Living"-era lineup was reforming, leaving the membership of Bush and Vera in question. Bush stated his involvement with Anthrax was over, and Dan Nelson took over vocal duties in the band in 2007. This move gave new hope to many that Armored Saint would soon again record. A one-off show with the "Revelation" lineup took place in 2005 and in 2006 the band embarked on a new tour.
As part of their 20th anniversary, Metal Blade Records released a special edition of "Symbol Of Salvation". Also reissued was the band's long out of print live video, "A Trip Thru Red Times".
In Fall 2009, the band returned to the studio to record a new album called "La Raza" which was released in March 2010.
On February 11, 2013, Vera officially announced that the band had begun working on their seventh studio album. The album, titled Win Hands Down, was released on June 2, 2015. Win Hands Down debuted at number 183 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The album also reached number 33 on the German Top 100 albums charts.
On February 24, 2017, Armored Saint released their first live album in 29 years, Carpe Noctum.
On May 23, 2019, Armored Saint announced that they had begun writing and demoing songs for their eighth studio album. The resulting album, titled Punching the Sky, was released on October 23, 2020. Metal Hammer named it the 33rd-best metal album of 2020.
In October 2020, Armored Saint released a teaser trailer to their documentary "Armored Saint: The Movie" which includes appearances from such as James Hetfield from Metallica and Scott Ian from Anthrax.
In a July 2023 interview, Bush confirmed that he and Vera have "started writing some songs a little bit" for the next Armored Saint album.
Chilled
Armored Saint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch the sun drop and dusk fade
Another two dozen hours go by
And times going quicker at forty five
When I was young I wanted life to go fast
Always in a hurry to see what's next
Maybe if I could slow time down
I might shake loose this reoccurring frown
Calling a truce with this ghost that I fought
And just chill with what I got
Breaking it down to see where I stand
It's all pretty grand
Periodically I find myself pissed off
Though never quite sure about which I bug caught
Very few things in my life are bad
Some bad shit happens to that other half
Don't want to appear that I ain't grateful
It's all gravy when you terminate the bull shit
Hurdles that come up running the track
Are best dealt with a calm state of attack
Rest assured so be understood
It's all pretty good
Feet planted on my own holy land
The lyrics to Armored Saint's song "Chilled" explore the concept of time and aging. The singer reflects on how time seems to be moving faster now that he is older, but he wishes he could slow it down to appreciate the present moment. He acknowledges that while there are frustrating aspects to his life, he is ultimately grateful for what he has. The idea of "chilling" or taking a step back from the chaos of life also comes into play as the singer hopes to find inner peace.
The first verse sets the stage for the song's themes, with the singer bidding farewell to his favorite time of day and lamenting how fast time seems to be moving. He contrasts this with his younger self, who was always eager to move through life quickly. The second verse shifts to a more introspective tone, as the singer contemplates his own frustrations and anger. He acknowledges that some parts of his life are difficult, but tries to maintain perspective and remain grateful. The chorus encourages the listener to take a step back and appreciate what they have.
Overall, "Chilled" is a song about finding inner peace and gratitude in the midst of life's difficulties. It encourages listeners to slow down and appreciate the present moment, rather than always looking ahead to what's next.
Line by Line Meaning
I say goodbye to my favorite time of day
I bid farewell to my most cherished time of the day.
Watch the sun drop and dusk fade
I observe the sun set and the evening descend into darkness.
Another two dozen hours go by
Another 24 hours pass by.
And times going quicker at forty-five
Time seems to be accelerating as I age, now being forty-five.
When I was young, I wanted life to go fast
In my youth, I eagerly desired life to swiftly move forward.
Always in a hurry to see what's next
Frantically wanting to know what the future holds.
Maybe if I could slow time down
Perhaps I could halt time's progression.
I might shake loose this recurring frown
This constant feeling of discontentment could be vanquished.
Vacuum me in a deep freeze
If only I could be encased in a frozen state of suspended animation.
Calling a truce with this ghost that I fought
I hope to make peace with my inner demons, the ones I have been battling.
And just chill with what I got
To relax and appreciate what I have.
Breaking it down to see where I stand
Analyzing my position and understanding my true standing in life.
It's all pretty grand
Everything is quite good or even wonderful.
Periodically I find myself pissed off
Occasionally, I feel frustrated or annoyed.
Though never quite sure about which bug I caught
However, I am uncertain as to which issue is bothering me.
Very few things in my life are bad
I don't have many negative aspects or problems in my life.
Some bad shit happens to that other half
There are some negative experiences affecting a different group of people.
Don't want to appear that I ain't grateful
I don't want to come across as unappreciative.
It's all gravy when you terminate the bullshit
When you get rid of unnecessary negativity, life is much better.
Hurdles that come up running the track
Obstacles that appear in life are like hurdles on a race track.
Are best dealt with a calm state of attack
It's better to approach these obstacles calmly and logically.
Rest assured so be understood
Be guaranteed, understand this.
It's all pretty good
Overall, everything is pretty good in life.
Feet planted on my own holy land
I am standing on my own sacred ground or land, secure in my footing.
Writer(s): John Robert Bush, Joseph John Vera Copyright: Don'T Funk With My Music, My Own Agenda Publishing
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.