Shane’s Rock Challenge: ARMORED SAINT – 1985 – Delirious Nomad

Shane’s Music Challenge: ARMORED SAINT – 1985 – Delirious Nomad
5.5/10

A good album from a great band – but it wasn’t enough. What they needed for their highly anticipated second album was something at least as vibrant, exhilarating and catchy as their debut, March Of The Saint – and Delirious Nomad fell just short of the mark.

It certainly starts strongly enough with a mighty Long Before I Die and the title track, but from then on, whilst the playing is always great, especially the guitars, and John Bush’s singing is, as ever, excellent, the songs just aren’t there.

Bush had previously declined Lars Ulrich’s offer to audition as Metallica’s lead singer, allowing James Hetfield to simply play guitar. He declined as he considered Armored Saint were going to break through, and after March Of The Saint, any fan must have expected the same. Sadly it was not to be. They’d make one more album for Chrysalis and a couple for Metal Blade before Bush would be offered the singer spot with Anthrax – and this time he knew better than to say no.

By Shane Pinnegar

Category: Shane's Rock Challenge