What makes Raising Fear by Armored Saint notable?

The album reached number 87 on the Billboard 200, showcasing Armored Saint's commercial appeal during a time when hair metal dominated the charts. It also received critical praise for its lyrical depth and musicianship, further establishing the band's reputation within the heavy metal community. Raising Fear is Armored Saint's third studio album, released in January 1987 during a period of growing recognition following their previous release, Delirious Nomad. This album marked a crucial point as the band sought to solidify their presence in the competitive heavy metal scene of the mid-'80s.

Who is Raising Fear for?

Raising Fear works well if you're into steady mid-tempo intensity, relentless energy for workouts and headbanging anthems with friends.

How many songs are on Raising Fear?

Raising Fear has 11 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Raising Fear

Armored Saint · 1987

51 min · 11 tracks · heavy metal

A relentless barrage of heavy riffs and soaring vocals encapsulates the urgency and aggression of late '80s metal.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Raising Fear — The title track sets a powerful tone with its driving rhythms and urgent lyrics about facing inner demons, encapsulating the album's thematic core.
→
Isolation — This track features intricate guitar work and a compelling narrative about loneliness, offering a more introspective take amid the heavier sound.
→
Human Vulture — With its aggressive instrumentation and biting commentary on societal decay, this track exemplifies the band's ability to merge heavy themes with technical prowess.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

Raising Fear showcases strong musicianship and memorable melodies within its heavy metal framework.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that features a rapid tempo and aggressive guitar riffs, setting a high-energy tone for the first half.
Several tracks utilize dual guitar harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the melodic complexity of the heavy sound.
The last three tracks slow down slightly in tempo, providing a contrast to the earlier intensity and allowing for more emotional expression.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo intensity
relentless energy for workouts
headbanging anthems with friends
cathartic release during stress

Maybe skip if you

prefer softer, melodic sounds
seek quick, catchy singles

Where this album fits

Career context: Raising Fear is Armored Saint's third studio album, released in January 1987 during a period of growing recognition following their previous release, Delirious Nomad. This album marked a crucial point as the band sought to solidify their presence in the competitive heavy metal scene of the mid-'80s.
Stylistic neighbors: Metallica· Anthrax· Judas Priest