Tuesday, October 9: Armored Saint, “In the Hole”
As John Bush himself put it, Delirious Nomad was far closer to the mark than the likable but anemic March of the Saint, but Armored Saint’s second record also exposed fault lines that would define much of the band’s discography, notably a strange sense of panic and lack of confidence. This was clear even on otherwise good tracks like “In the Hole”: Bush was already one of the best singers of his generation, and Gonzo’s drumming charged like a freight train, but something about the group’s sense of urgency felt a bit misguided. What saved the song from sounding like aimless hysteria was Max Norman’s metal-minded production and Bush’s staggering vocals, which cut through the frenzy with clarity and bravado, especially during the rousing final moments. Still, “In the Hole” showcased what was both right and wrong with Armored Saint in the mid ‘80s- it was well-written and played, and had a lethal throat at the helm, but it was also unsure of itself, and it would take another studio album, bad business and tragedy before they finally shed that last quality on the still-monumental Symbol of Salvation.
