Has it really been over 40 years since the establishment outraging, self titled debut from L.A. shock rockers W.A.S.P. was released, preceded of course by their infamous single “Animal”? How time flies.
Tonight, was the final leg of a year long celebration of that very event, which has seen W.A.S.P. circumvent the globe, with a performance of the album in its entirety from start to finish.
First up however, were fellow L.A. Metal legends, Armored Saint, making their very first appearance in Newcastle in a history stretching back 42 years. Better late than never as they say.
So revered are Armored Saint in Metal circles that lead singer John Bush, was invited to join Metallica after their first album. Bush opted to remain with the band he formed with his friends although he did front Thrash veterans Anthrax for over a decade through the 90s and 2000s. Bassist Joey Vera was also invited to join Metallica after the tragic death of Cliff Burton in 1986 but he too, opted to remain with Armored Saint.
The twin guitars of Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval delivered the scything riffs and screaming solos, with Sandoval’s brother Gonzo on drums anchoring the water tight rhythm section with Vera. Armored Saint whipped up a maelstrom of pure, unbridled Heavy Metal with “March Of The Saint”, “End of the Attention Span”, “Can U Deliver” and a brutal “Reign Of Fire” hammering home their flawless credentials as Bush showed just why he was in such high demand with a commanding and powerful performance.
Back in 1984 W.A.S.P., all decked out in spandex and buzzsaw codpieces while throwing raw meat into the crowd, not to mention the torture rack, caused serious alarm amongst the authorities but the kids loved them and that parental disapproval meant they loved them more.
Those rough edges may be a little less sharp these days and main man Blackie Lawless, a little less dangerous than originally perceived, but their debut release still possesses the power and rage that it had four decades ago.
As with most anniversary shows where an album is played in full in its original running order, sometimes songs that have traditionally come later, come earlier and that’s exactly why “I Wanna Be Somebody” sounded so strange opening the show instead of being the final encore, yet the impact of this chest beating anthem for fame and fortune still retained its cutting edge.
Perennial favourite “L.O.V.E. Machine” complete with its insanely catchy chorus came early in the set. Guitarist Doug Blair, almost 20 years in the band and bassist Mike Duda now clocking three decades in W.A.S.P. along with drummer Aquiles Priester, provided the energy while Lawless stood menacingly behind his huge microphone contraption named Elvis.
The biting riff to “The Flame” thundered forth while “B.A.D.” was cut from the same cloth as “L.O.V.E. Machine” in terms of hooks. “School Daze”, the natural successor to Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out” and “On Your Knees” was a full throttle Metal assault with “Sleeping (In The Fire)” providing the only respite.
Rarely played cuts “Hellion” and the sinister “Tormentor” sounded as fresh and bombastic as they did 40 years ago as “The Torture Never Stops” brought the main set to a close.
How on earth do you follow one of the best debut albums in Metal played in full? How about a couple of rather fine mini-medleys that brought some rarely played songs to the set including “Inside The Electric Circus”, “The Real Me” and “Scream Until You Like It” along with an absolutely barnstorming take on “The Headless Children” while “Wild Child” and “Blind In Texas” wrapped up the show with a real sting in the tail.
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