Saints Will Conquer cover

Saints Will Conquer

Armored Saint · 1988

31 min · 8 tracks · heavy metal

A relentless barrage of heavy riffs and soaring vocals that encapsulate the spirit of late '80s metal.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Raising Fear — This opening track sets the tone with aggressive guitar work and powerful vocal delivery, establishing the album's intense energy from the start.
  • →
    Madhouse — With its catchy chorus and infectious riff, this song exemplifies Armored Saint's ability to blend melody with ferocity, making it a fan favorite.
  • →
    Chemical Euphoria — The track showcases complex arrangements and thoughtful lyrics that delve into themes of addiction and escapism, highlighting the band's lyrical depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

48 /100
Foothills
Higher than 19% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid songwriting and performance typical of late '80s heavy metal, with some memorable moments.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast tempo, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down slightly in the latter tracks.
  • Each song features prominent guitar riffs and harmonized vocals, often layering melodies over heavy instrumentation.
  • Several tracks incorporate shifts in dynamics, alternating between aggressive verses and more melodic choruses.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

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 headbanging
  • intense atmosphere for workouts
  • short bursts of energy
  • sing-along choruses with friends

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, sounds
  • seek lengthy immersive experiences

Where this album fits

Career context
By the time 'Saints Will Conquer' was released in 1988, Armored Saint was navigating their post-'Raising Fear' era, showcasing a maturation in songwriting and performance. This album followed their previous works, positioning them firmly within the heavy metal scene as they sought to expand their audience beyond their cult status.
Stylistic neighbors
Metallica· Anthrax· Judas Priest

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Raising Fear 3:34
  • 2 Nervous Man 3:35
  • 3 Chemical Euphoria 4:12
  • 4 Book of Blood 4:47
  • 5 Can U Deliver 4:34
  • 6 Long Before I Die 2:44
  • 7 Madhouse 4:23
  • 8 No Reason to Live 4:01

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata