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.
Muscle Memory
Armored Saint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Switch back and forth between
A scowl and a smile
People lift me up or drop me
Flat like a stone
But still I want to believe in them
My clan comes number one in the fight
We brought souls in this world
Though my moods they swing like a pendulum
They know where my heart comes from
Like our dear departed friend Andy told me
It's only water off a ducks
Back in the stream
Face it like a man face it like a wimp
But either way you're facing it
Burying your hero underneath
Your feathers
Signals a swan song
Yes the ride is short but your
Heretage is long
Muscle memory
Is what I use to carry me
Muscle memory
Ain't no way I worry 'bout a thing
Muscle memory
I reference stuff I know
Muscle memory
Then put my feet down and go
I want music to bring me down to my knees
Make me sob like an infant make me angry
Rip me to shreds clue me back up
Make my mind explode
Things that matter I can afford
Get my shit together and get onboard
Shed every pound, melt it away
Rid that overweight load
Burying your head underneath the sand
Is succumbing to the words I can't
Ok the ride may stall but your legacy
Stands tall
Muscle memory
Is what I use to carry me
Muscle memory
Ain't no way I worry 'bout anything
Muscle memory
I reference stuff I learn
Muscle memory
Disfigurement I've earned
And I wear it like a badge of honor
No stone unturned
Yeah it's the bane of my existence
To pass the torch in a world of nonsense
Shot a miss
So many nights I've toiled over this
Once around
Crotchety young man make it count
I make my own news out on the fly
Do much more than I need to get by
People lift me up
Don't let me drop
Or at least have a net there
Burying your hero in your hands
Looks like a deserted plan
Yes the ride is short
With temptations to abort
ok the ride may stall
You still sound off the bugle call
Muscle memory
Is what I use to carry me
Muscle memory
Ain't no way I worry 'bout anything
Muscle memory
I reference stuff I know
Muscle memory
Then put me feet down and go
And I go, yeah
There I go
The song is about the realization that life is short, and how one's past experiences shape their ability to face the future. The first verses explore the duality of life and how one's mood can swing between positive and negative experiences. The singer has moments of disappointment, but his clan "comes number one in the fight". Through his life experiences, he has developed "muscle memory" to carry him through tough times.
The chorus emphasizes this idea of muscle memory, a mental and physical strength that comes from previous experiences. The singer entreats his listeners to embrace the things that matter and to let go of the excess weight holding them back. He urges them to face their problems with bravery, rather than burying their heads in the sand. He acknowledges that passing on this legacy can be a difficult task, but by embracing the power of muscle memory, one can find the strength to rise above the noise of everyday life.
Overall, the song is a call to embrace one's personal history as a source of strength and a means of facing the future. It's a reminder that the ride may be short, but our heritage is long, and it's up to us to use our experiences to guide us through life.
Line by Line Meaning
I read the news every day or I try
I attempt to read the news daily, although it can be challenging.
Switch back and forth between
A scowl and a smile
My emotions vary between negative and positive.
People lift me up or drop me
Flat like a stone
Individuals either provide me with support or abandon me altogether.
But still I want to believe in them
Despite everything, I still have faith in people.
My clan comes number one in the fight
We brought souls in this world
And we'll do it right
My family is the most important thing, and we strive to make positive contributions to society.
Though my moods they swing like a pendulum
They know where my heart comes from
Although my emotions are erratic, those close to me understand my true intentions.
Like our dear departed friend Andy told me
It's only water off a ducks
Back in the stream
A wise friend taught me to let things roll off my back and move on.
Face it like a man face it like a wimp
But either way you're facing it
Confronting problems is difficult, whether you face them bravely or not.
Burying your hero underneath
Your feathers
Signals a swan song
Yes the ride is short but your
Heretage is long
Honoring those who have passed is a sign of the end of an era, but their legacy will live on.
Muscle memory
Is what I use to carry me
Muscle memory
Ain't no way I worry 'bout a thing
Muscle memory
I reference stuff I know
Muscle memory
Then put my feet down and go
I rely on my instincts and previous experiences to guide me forward.
I want music to bring me down to my knees
Make me sob like an infant make me angry
Rip me to shreds clue me back up
Make my mind explode
Things that matter I can afford
Get my shit together and get onboard
Shed every pound, melt it away
Rid that overweight load
Music has the power to bring me to tears or make me feel intense anger. It has the ability to help me reflect on important issues and take action to better myself and make positive changes in my life.
Burying your head underneath the sand
Is succumbing to the words I can't
Ok the ride may stall but your legacy
Stands tall
Ignoring problems and avoiding changes is a sign of weakness. However, even if progress is difficult, your accomplishments will be remembered.
And I wear it like a badge of honor
No stone unturned
Yeah it's the bane of my existence
To pass the torch in a world of nonsense
I am proud of my accomplishments, both good and bad. I strive to do my best, but it can be challenging to pass the torch to the next generation in a world full of chaos and confusion.
Shot a miss
So many nights I've toiled over this
Once around
Crotchety young man make it count
Although I have made mistakes, I continue to work hard and put in effort. Life is short, so I must make the most of my time.
I make my own news out on the fly
Do much more than I need to get by
People lift me up
Don't let me drop
Or at least have a net there
I create my own opportunities and work hard to achieve success. I depend on people to support me and provide me with a safety net in case of failure.
Burying your hero in your hands
Looks like a deserted plan
Yes the ride is short
With temptations to abort
ok the ride may stall
You still sound off the bugle call
Grieving for a lost hero is difficult, but it is important to remember their legacy and continue to work towards your own goals, no matter how difficult they may be.
And I go, yeah
There I go
I continue to move forward, no matter what challenges I may face.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BUSH JOHN ROBERT, VERA JOSEPH JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind