Win Hands Down
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Win Hands Down
| type = Studio
| artist = Armored Saint
| cover = Win_Hands_Down_smaller.jpg
| alt =
| released = June 2, 2015
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = *Bridge Studios (Los Angeles, California)
- Travis Dickerson Studios (Chatsworth)
- Clearlake Audio (Burbank, California)
| genre = Heavy metal
| length = 51:00
| label = Metal Blade
| producer = Joey Vera
| prev_title = La Raza
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Punching the Sky
| next_year = 2020
}}
Win Hands Down is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Armored Saint. It was released on June 2, 2015.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/win-hands-down-mw0002842906 AllMusic]{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/armored-saint-entire-win-hands-down-album-available-for-streaming/ |title=ARMORED SAINT: Entire 'Win Hands Down' Album Available For Streaming |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=May 29, 2015 |accessdate=December 2, 2016}} The vocals were recorded at Bridge Recording in Los Angeles, guitars and bass were recorded at Travis Dickerson Studios in Chatsworth and drums were recorded at Clearlake Audio in Burbank.
Two videos have been released for the album: the title track and the song "An Exercise in Debauchery". The band toured extensively in summer 2015 with Saxon in support of the album.[http://teamrock.com/news/2015-04-09/armored-saint-detail-win-hands-down Armored Saint detail Win Hands Down], teamrock.com, 9 April 2015
Critical reception
Metal.de rated the album 9 out of 10 points. Marek Protzak wrote, there was "no other band at the moment" who played "classical metal in such an inspired and versed manner".[http://www.metal.de/reviews/armored-saint-win-hands-down-61248/ Armored Saint - Win Hands Down], metal.de, in German German Rock Hard magazine editors voted Win Hands Down as "Album of the Month". Editor-in-chief Boris Kaiser called Armored Saint "one of the most underrated bands in US Metal" and compared the album to 1991's Symbol of Salvation. He rated it 8.5 of 10.[https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/34980-win-hands-down.html Armored Saint - Win Hands Down], rockhard.de, in German
Commercial performance
The album sold double the number of copies as the previous album La Raza.[http://bravewords.com/news/armored-saint-win-hands-down-debuts-on-billboard-chart ARMORED SAINT – Win Hands Down Debuts On Billboard Chart], bravewords.com, 10 June 2015
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Joey Vera and John Bush except where noted
| total_length = 51:00
| title1 = Win Hands Down
| length1 = 5:06
| title2 = Mess
| length2 = 4:35
| title3 = An Exercise in Debauchery
| length3 = 6:00
| title4 = Muscle Memory
| length4 = 7:14
| title5 = That Was Then, Way Back When
| length5 = 5:08
| title6 = With a Full Head of Steam
| writer6 = Vera, Bush, Jeff Duncan, Phil Sandoval, Gonzo Sandoval
| length6 = 5:18
| title7 = In an Instant
| length7 = 7:36
| title8 = Dive
| length8 = 4:40
| title9 = Up Yours
| length9 = 5:23
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese bonus track
| total_length = 55:41
| title1 = Dive (Deep Remix)
| note1 =
| length1 = 4:41
}}
Personnel
;Band Members
- John Bush – lead vocals
- Phil Sandoval – guitar
- Jeff Duncan – guitar
- Joey Vera – bass, backing vocals
- Gonzo Sandoval – drums
;Additional musician
- Pearl Aday – guest vocals on "With a Full Head of Steam"
;Production
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2015)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|119|artist=Armored Saint|album=Win Hands Down|accessdate=August 13, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|94|artist=Armored Saint|album=Win Hands Down|accessdate=August 13, 2019}} |
| {{Album chart|Germany4|33|id=275771|album=Win Hands Down|artist=Armored Saint|refname=ger|accessdate=August 13, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|84|artist=Armored Saint|album=Win Hands Down|accessdate=August 13, 2019}} |
| {{Album chart|Billboard200|183|album=Win Hands Down|artist=Armored Saint|refname=bb200|accessdate=December 2, 2016}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|77|artist=Armored Saint|accessdate=August 15, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|3|artist=Armored Saint|accessdate=August 15, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|15|artist=Armored Saint|accessdate=August 15, 2019}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Armored Saint}}
{{Authority control}}