Pelata Armored Saint has always had it’s own vibe. I can’t think of a band off the top of my head that I’ve ever compared to Armored Saint. They manage to move their sound forward on each album, never intentionally repeating themselves, yet still retain that Armored Saint core sound. La Raza is a very natural sounding progression from where they left off with Revelation and the couple of new tracks―“Real Swagger” and “Unstable”―that were included on 2001′s Nod To The Old School compilation.

Tracks like “Left Hook From Right Field”, “Loose Cannon”, & “Little Monkey” carry all the attitude and grit you’d expect from this band… driving tempos, intensity and heart. John Bush has never sounded better. One of the coolest things about his voice is his trademark “on the verge of giving out” screams. He sings with all the piss and vinegar a listener can handle. “Head On” has a great blend of groove and gravel. The aptly named “Chilled” is a nice change up in the middle with it’s dark, smoky verses and hard-hitting chorus. “Bandit Country” brings a bit of funk into the mix while sacrificing none of the albums ferocity, as does “Get Off The Fence”. The title track is a nearly 7-minute jaunt through off-kilter grooves, percussion and attitude… the melody on the chorus carries an air of angry sadness and fits perfectly.There’s an underlying air of menace throughout the album that ties it all together quite nicely.

La Raza has a very organic, earthy tone about it. The riffs are fat. The vocals are impassioned. The hooks and tempos are infectious. The lead work is soulful and impressive. You’re swaying under the weight of a massive groove one minute, then giving yourself future neck problems the next. When it’s cranked in the headphones, it almost sounds as if you’re in the room with the band… loud and heavy. All in all, I’d say ten years was worth the wait for La Raza. It’s raw, real and ultimately a very satisfying listen. In a time when other bands their age either seem to lose their way or try to be something they’re not, Armored Saint do neither. They prove that veteran acts can deliver the goods time after time.