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John Bush isn’t asking you to come to his show; he’s telling you. In a bold move that has the West Coast metal scene buzzing, Armored Saint and Metal Church have officially united for “The Metal Saint Tour 2026.” But this isn’t just another legacy run. With Metal Church debuting a “lethal” new lineup featuring Megadeth legend David Ellefson and Armored Saint riding the high of their most aggressive record in a decade, the stakes have never been higher for the ’80s titans.

The Resurrection: Armored Saint’s ‘Emotion Factory Reset’

Armored Saint’s ninth studio album, Emotion Factory Reset, serves as a masterclass in musical diversity. Produced by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour), the record finds the classic lineup—featuring vocalist John Bush and guitarists Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan—challenging their legacy while staying rooted in the present.

“Two classic metal bands from the ’80s on tour together doing headline sets and both with brand new awesome records out,” says John Bush. “If you call yourself a metalhead and you don’t come to this show, you better have a damn good excuse!”

Check This Out – Thrash Metal’s 13 Greatest Bands Ranked — The #1 Pick Still Sparks Debate

Metal Church: A New Era with David Ellefson

For Metal Church, the 2026 tour marks a pivotal moment following the April 10 release of their 13th studio album, Dead To Rights. The record introduces a powerhouse new lineup: founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof and drummer Ken Mary are now joined by former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and dynamic new vocalist Brian Allen. Produced by Vanderhoof and mixed by Zeuss, the album reaffirms the band’s reputation for the precision and power that originally saw them touring alongside Metallica in the mid-80s.

Ticket and Presale Information

Tickets for “The Metal Saint Tour 2026” are expected to move quickly as fans flock to see this rare pairing of 80s heavyweights.

• General On-Sale: Friday, May 29, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• Touring Support: Hard hitters Livekill will open all dates.

The Metal Saint Tour 2026: North American Dates

Nov. 02 – Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
Nov. 03 – The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Nov. 04 – The Nile – Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 06 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Nov. 07 – Sunshine Studios – Colorado Springs, CO
Nov. 08 – The Federal – Denver, CO
Nov. 10 – Neurolux – Boise, ID
Nov. 11 – The Newberry – Great Falls, MT
Nov. 13 – Dantes – Portland, OR
Nov. 14 – Redwood Theater – Bremerton, WA
Nov. 15 – Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 17 – Great America Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 18 – Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
Nov. 19 – Whisky A Go Go – Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 20 – Observatory North San Diego – San Diego, CA
Nov. 21 – Canyon Club – Agoura Hills, CA

FAQ: Armored Saint & Metal Church 2026 Tour

What are the new albums being supported on this tour? Armored Saint is touring behind Emotion Factory Reset, while Metal Church is supporting their April 2026 release, Dead To Rights.

Who is the new singer and bassist for Metal Church? The current lineup features vocalist Brian Allen (who previously fronted the band) and legendary bassist David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth).

When did Armored Saint join the Metal Hall of Fame? Armored Saint was officially inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame in July 2023 at a ceremony held at the Whisky A Go Go.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of the Armored Saint/Metal Church tour and exclusive interviews with John Bush and Kurdt Vanderhoof on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast. Visit LoadedRadio.com or download our free app now.

Also Recommended – Forget the ‘Big 4’: These 13 Bands Actually Built Heavy Metal

TL;DR:

Armored Saint and Metal Church have announced “The Metal Saint Tour 2026,” a co-headlining North American run this November. Supporting new albums ‘Emotion Factory Reset’ and ‘Dead To Rights,’ the tour features David Ellefson in the Metal Church lineup and kicks off November 2 in California. Tickets go on sale May 29.

Does the addition of David Ellefson to Metal Church make this the most “musically sophisticated” tour of the year, or is the Armored Saint 1989 lineup still the ultimate draw? Let us know in the comments.

The post “No More Excuses”: Why This 2026 Armored Saint & Metal Church Tour is a ‘Must-See’ Event appeared first on Loaded Radio.

A perfect surprise?

The post A Perfect Circle Premiere New Single “Starless” Ahead Of Their European/UK Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

Last year, Austin psych veterans Holy Wave impressed us with “Time Crisis Too,” their contribution to a split with Suicide Squeeze labelmates Chastity Belt. The lead single from Holy Wave’s upcoming album is even more impressive, and you can hear it now. In July, the band will release i’m DADA, the follow-up to 2023’s Five…

The post Holy Wave Announce New Album <em>i’m DADA</em>: Hear “s33.u.in/HAL” appeared first on Stereogum.

Nashville power trio Lockstep started in 2021, and they quickly figured out an extra-heavy take on shoegaze. The band impressed us with their single “Drag Along” last year, and now they’ve signed to Profound Lore and announced their full-length debut I Know What I Saw. Lockstep recorded their LP in Nashville with producer Zac Montez.…

The post Lockstep Announce Debut Album <em>I Know What I Saw</em>: Hear “Ash In The Water” appeared first on Stereogum.

(Our friend and contributor Ben Manzella caught the Los Angeles stop of the ongoing Decibel Magazine Tour on the night of May 12th and sent in the following thoughts about the performances, along with his own excellent photos. We’re late in posting this, through no fault of Ben’s, due to our editor’s distractions at a […]

The post DECIBEL TOUR 2026: CRYPTOPSY, NECROT, SPIRIT ADRIFT, BLOOD MONOLITH appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

“They asked me if I would perform. I said, No.”

"Starless," the first new song since A Perfect Circle released 'Eat the Elephant,' is out now. Continue reading…

No word yet on Helmet strapping it on for the tour though.

The post Down, Helmet & Spirit In The Room Set For ‘Strap It Down’ Summer North American Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

Dan Cummings, frontman of Massachusetts street-punks Already Dead, has started putting out solo, acoustic, working-class folk punk material…and Dying Scene is stoked to get to show you what he’s up to!

This coming Friday, Cummings will release his acoustic cover of “Which Side Are You On?” In keeping with long-running folk traditions, he’s updated the lyrics to be reflective of the current sociopolitical climate. The video was directed and edited by Roberto Terrones Jr of Boston-based Berto Media. Check it out below and check out Dan’s Bandcamp while you’re at it!

Posted on May 27th 2026, 3:49p.m.