When I got my start in metal back in the mid-80s, the always controversial W.A.S.P. was in their absolute prime. With their second album, The Last Command, released in ’85, the band was catapulted into superstardom, helped along by the incredibly popular singles ‘Wild Child’ and ‘Blind In Texas’. It was during this time that the band started touring extensively which earned them a rabid fan base, despite all the ongoing controversies with the PMRC over their explicit lyrics and shocking stage antics. Around the same time, a young Armored Saint were just starting to make waves with their second album, Delirious Nomad, released in ’85. It would be a few years before the band would see commercial success on the level of W.A.S.P., but that came eventually with their 1991 album, Symbol Of Salvation. Unfortunately, I was a bit too young to have caught either band live during this stage of their careers. But that was rectified on November 10th in Detroit, where both bands stopped at The Royal Oak Music Theatre as part of the ‘Album One Alive’ world tour.

ARMORED SAINT

I’ll admit that I was a bit disappointed when it was announced that Death Angel had pulled out of the tour with W.A.S.P.. Said disappointment was quickly alleviated by the announcement of the legendary Armored Saint taking their place. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made for Armored Saint to share the billing with W.A.S.P. Not that there is anything wrong with Death Angel. Not at all. It’s just that John Bush and crew’s brand of metal is definitely more complimentary to Lawless and his crew. In addition to this, I have never witnessed Armored Saint live, yet have seen DA many a time. I gotta say, I was incredibly impressed. From start to finish, their set was an energetic display of thrash-infused classic metal. These guys fire on cylinders of a band half their age, which is mightily impressive considering how long they have been in the game. The band’s setlist was a sprint through their career, blending classic tracks like ‘March Of The Saint’ and ‘Can You Deliver’ with more contemporary material from albums such as 2020’s Punching the Sky.

Frontman John Bush definitely has a knack for commanding the crowd, both with his iconic voice and larger-than-life stage presence. At one point, he disappeared from the stage only to reemerge in the middle of the crowd where he was hoisted into the air by adoring fans while belting out pitch-perfect vocals. His connection with fans feels absolutely genuine, creating an intimate atmosphere even though the venue was packed. This connection became even stronger with the song ‘Symbol Of Salvation’ which had the entire venue singing along. In the end, Armored Saint demonstrated, in spades, that they have weathered the test of time.

Setlist
‘End Of The Attention Span’, ‘Pay Dirt’, ‘Nervous Man’, ‘March Of The Saint’, ‘Left Hook From Right Field’, ‘Book Of Blood’, ‘Win Hands Down’, ‘Can U Deliver’, ‘Reign Of Fire’

W.A.S.P.

How does a band who electrified millions of teens and terrified millions of parents with their raunchy, debauched music back in the 80s still shock in 2024? So much has changed since those days. What was shocking back then seems tame by comparison. Performing their debut self-titled album in its entirety on this tour, the songs contained within that classic album definitely don’t have the shock factor that they once had. To counter this, Blackie and his minions attempted to recapture those early days with a truly powerful performance where every effort was made to mask their human age with raw energy and theatrical flair. It was truly like stepping into a time machine. The crowd – ranging from die-hard fans in denim and leather to younger metalheads – united to celebrate the rebellious spirit of a bygone time delivered by one of the genre’s most iconic bands.

At stage-center, Blackie and his infamous “microphone stand throne” (often referred to as Elvis) served as a pulpit from which he barked his way through the entirety of the set quite competently. If you have been paying attention, you would know that there have been lip-sync accusations thrown Blackie’s way for several years now. If he was lip-syncing, he has perfected it to such a degree that it is nearly impossible to detect with a less discerning eye. No matter the accusations, Blackie can still command his audience on a whim. Sure, his movements might be considerably slower when he does step away from the mic, but he is still a master at weaving a musical story of a bygone era with more-than-competent musicianship and the youthful energy of his former self.

Setlist
‘I Wanna Be Somebody’, ‘L.O.V.E. Machine’, ‘The Flame’, ‘B.A.D.’, ‘School Daze’, ‘Hellion’, ‘Sleeping (In The Fire)’, ‘On Your Knees’, ‘Tormentor’, ‘The Torture Never Stops’, ‘The Big Welcome’, ‘Inside the Electric Circus/I Don’t Need No Doctor/Scream Until You Like It’, ‘The Real Me’, ‘Forever Free/The Headless Children’, ‘Wild Child’, ‘Blind In Texas’

CONCLUSION
Heavy metal concerts in the 80s were more than just events… they were a cultural phenomenon. To relive that spirit in 2024 is truly something special. Tonight, the throngs of denim and leather-clad die-hards came out in droves to show their love and undying support for two of the best this era had on offer, and both W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint did not disappoint. So, set your time-machine to ’84 and raise those horns loud and proud when this tour rolls through your city!