Nine albums in, Los Angeles metal vets Armored Saint pivot to more of a hard rock sound for most of Emotion Factory Reset. The title comes from a line in leadoff track “Close to the Bone,” which takes musical inspiration from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s, a form that peaked right around Armored Saint’s formation in 1982. Since John Bush’s return for 2000’s Revelation, Armored Saint has shapeshifted subtly over time into a band that doesn’t feel beholden to genre. “Hit a Moonshot” combines a vintage rock feel with modern production as Bush sings of yacht rides and taking down Camelot. “It’s a Buzzkill” assumes a ’90s alt-rock mold, complete with a hard funk bassline and era-appropriate drum and guitar effects. Like the band’s last four albums, Emotion Factory Reset was produced by Armored Saint bassist and songwriter Joey Vera, who sees the value in making each record different from its predecessor. And while Emotion Factory Reset might share some common ground with the band’s 2020 release Punching the Sky, it’s a far cry from their 1984 debut March of the Saint or their 1991 fan favorite Symbol of Salvation, the first Armored Saint record to feature guitarist Jeff Duncan.