Veteran Los Angeles metallers ARMORED SAINT entered Tranzformer Studios in Burbank, California on October 12 to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The SAINT is working with Bryan Carlstrom, who is once again handling engineering duties, with the band's very own Joey Vera (bass) in the producer's chair. Joey and Bryan will mix the record, which is scheduled for release in early 2010 via Metal Blade Records.

Video footage of ARMORED SAINT's Gonzo Sandoval laying down tracks for the band's new CD can be viewed below.

The as-yet-untitled album will feature the following songs, among others:

* Black Feet
* Chilled
* Loose Cannon
* Blues
* La Raza
* Head On
* Get Off The Fence
* Left Hook From Right Field

Tranzformer Studios is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Carlstrom, who engineered the same album.

Commented Vera: "John [Bush, vocals] and I began writing over 14 months ago, and in the beginning we had only a general musical direction in which we were going. Once we decided to keep writing and with more of an intention of turning it into an ARMORED SAINT project, we were faced with a few questions. One was how does this new music we're writing fit into the current musical styles of today? And should we care? We quickly answered the latter. We realized we should do what we always did and that is to write good songs. And for ourselves first.

"We are not unaware of our parameters in which we have created over the past 25 years, but we are also not afraid to take chances and simply do what we do best.

"The idea of trying to continue where we left off over 10 years ago since our last release is not very appealing to me. I have to let go of what I did in 1991 and in 2000. Nothing at all against what we've recorded in the past but my head is in a different place now. Trust me; I still want to kill your senses with music, but just in a different way."

To get a taste of what the new ARMORED SAINT album will sound like, check out a demo version of "Loose Cannon" (performed with a drum program) in the YouTube clip below (also available for download as a ZIP file at this location). "Loose Cannon" gives fans a glimpse into ARMORED SAINT's writing process and is also a nice taste of what's to come on the band's forthcoming full-length studio release.

Fans can keep up with the band in the studio through Twitter at this location.

To celebrate ARMORED SAINT's recent first-ever tour of Australia, Riot! Entertainment, in conjunction with Metal Blade Records, produced an exclusive tour best-of compilation to combat the lack of ARMORED SAINT product on the market. This killer compilation covers the band's entire career and features such classic tracks as "March of the Saint", "Last Train Home", "Symbol of Salvation", "Hanging Judge". etc.

The CD is now available to international buyers by clicking here. For wholesale enquiries, contact John Howarth at john@riotact.com.au.

The band's current lineup is the same as the one on 2000's "Revelation" and 1992's "Symbol of Salvation" LPs:

John Bush (vocals)
Jeff Duncan (guitar)
Phil Sandoval (guitar)
Joey Vera (bass)
Gonzo Sandoval (drums)



Demo version of new ARMORED SAINT song "Loose Cannon":



(Thanks: NJthrasher)