I never really saw what the big deal was with Armored Saint and the couple of albums I've reviewed in the past 20 years were kind of lacklustre, though I know many will disagree. Punching the Sky is actually pretty cool even though it shares some of the blandness of Revelation and La Raza. Armored Saint aren't exactly the most metal outfit out there and some of their songs barely qualify, leaning more toward hard rock, and that's just as true on this album as it was on some (all?) of their past releases. It's largely easy-listening metal that's kind of inoffensive and can come in handy if you people visiting who aren't into metal (assuming you don't want to kick them out, otherwise you'll have to play something else). With that said, there's an undeniable songwriting and playing experience at work here, which makes the album kind of interesting to listen to if you happen to be in the mood for something light. If you were already into the band, this is bound to be another winner for you. For the others, it's worth giving them a second chance with this one as there are some decent tracks that rock hard enough to be entertaining.