Emotion Factory Reset
2026 studio album by Armored Saint
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Emotion Factory Reset is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Armored Saint. It was released on May 22, 2026 by Metal Blade. The album was produced by bassist Joey Vera, and mixed by Jay Ruston.
| Emotion Factory Reset | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 22, 2026 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 48:02 | |||
| Label | Metal Blade | |||
| Producer | Joey Vera | |||
| Armored Saint chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8/10[1] |
| Rock Hard |   [2] |
| Sputnikmusic |  [3] |
Background
Recording and musical style
Like the previous four studio albums, Emotion Factory Reset was produced by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston. It has been described as a challenge for the band, featuring songs that are not always immediately accessible. Vera said: "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."[6][2]
According to guitarist Phil Sandoval, the album title refers to the idea that humanity could use a sort of reset to factory settings. "If we could reset our 'emotion factory' to a state of inner peace, we would all be better off. John incorporated this metaphor beautifully into the lyrics of 'Close to the Bone'."[7]
Release and promotion
On March 24, 2026, Armored Saint announced that their ninth album, Emotion Factory Reset, was set to be released on May 22.[8] The band toured in support of the album by performing at Milwaukee Metal Fest in June 2026,[9] and touring Europe with Testament in the summer.[10] They will also co-headline a North American tour in the fall with Metal Church.[11]
Critical reception
Writing for Blabbermouth.net, Dom Lawson called Emotion Factory Reset "full of vibrant performances" that proves how much the Armored Saint remains enjoying themselves.[1] German Rock Hard magazine editors voted Emotion Factory Reset as "Album of the Month", with an average rating of 8.0 out of ten.[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Close to the Bone" | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Every Man-Any Man" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Not on Your Life" | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Hit a Moonshot" | 4:34 |
| 5. | "Buckeye" | 5:56 |
| 6. | "Compromise" | 3:17 |
| 7. | "It's a Buzzkil" | 4:01 |
| 8. | "Throwing Caution to the Wind" | 3:57 |
| 9. | "Ladders and Slides" | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Bottom Feeder" | 5:03 |
| 11. | "Epilogue" | 4:42 |
| Total length: | 48:02 | |
Personnel
- Band Members
- John Bush – vocals
- Phil Sandoval – guitars
- Jeff Duncan – guitars
- Joey Vera – bass, backing vocals, percussion
- Gonzo Sandoval – drums
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[12] | 45 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 104 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] | 166 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] | 25 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 20 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[17] | 99 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[18] | 75 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[19] | 28 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (Official Charts)[20] | 14 |