American heavy metal veterans Armored Saint have released a new single titled “Hit A Moonshot“. The track is the latest offering from the group’s upcoming studio album, Emotion Factory Reset, which is scheduled to arrive on May 22 via Metal Blade Records.
Vocalist John Bush, an avid sports fan, explained that the song’s title borrows a baseball term used to describe a high-arcing home run. He used the concept to draw parallels between the entertainment industry, sports, and the unpredictable nature of luck.
“It’s like you knocked something out of the park,” said Bush, “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 f**k 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.”
Detailing the musical composition of the track, he added:
“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 revealed that the song’s foundational guitar work stems from a riff he originally wrote decades ago.
“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.”
Discussing the recording process, guitarist Jeff Duncan emphasized the straightforward, modern approach the band took to capture their current sound.
“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.”
Marking their ninth studio release since their 1984 debut March Of The Saint, the new eleven-track album represents a creative rebirth for the long-running group. The album was produced by bassist Joey Vera, who also helmed the band’s last four records, and mixed by Jay Ruston (known for his work with Anthrax and Stone Sour).
“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,” said Joey Vera. “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.”
John Bush said: “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.”
Known for his commanding stage presence and studio performances, John Bush brings immense raw energy to the new tracks. Remarkably, roughly 85% of his final vocal tracks on the band’s last three albums were pulled directly from original demo sessions. Both the vocalist and the bassist prefer to capture the organic magic of the moment rather than over-polishing their work.
“I try not to overthink and be right where I’m at that time. I really don’t look over my shoulder much, like, ‘what did I do in the past? What’s going on in the next lane?’ Once the ball starts rolling, I just sit back and let it happen,” the bassist explained.
The album’s title emerged from the band’s collaborative writing process, specifically originating from guitarist Phil Sandoval.
“To me, Emotion Factory Reset means to reset yourself back to clarity. Take a pause and breathe before you respond or react. You can’t control outside events, but you can control your mind. How you interpret things is what hurts you, not the event itself,” he said.
His brother, drummer Gonzo, added: “The world is going through a technological upswing/awakening. I look at our planet as the factory and in the most positive way we need to realign, reimagine, reset for our better selves.”
The recording process for the new album spanned multiple facilities, including 606 Studios, Secret Hand Studios, Skullseven Studios, Constantine Studios, and Bridge Recording. The sessions were engineered by Oliver Roman, Bill Metoyer, Joey Vera, and Jason Constantine. The final product features striking cover artwork designed by DDKing.
Additionally, fans in Europe will have access to a special CD digipak edition featuring the bonus track “One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison)“, which was previously only available digitally.
Emotion Factory Reset Official Track Listing:
- “Close To The Bone”
- “Every Man-Any Man”
- “Not On Your Life”
- “Hit A Moonshot”
- “Buckeye”
- “Compromise”
- “It’s A Buzzkill”
- “Throwing Caution To The Wind”
- “Ladders And Slides”
- “Bottom Feeder”
- “Epilogue”
