W.A.S.P. / Armored Saint

W.A.S.P. Commemorate Their 40th Year of Shock Rock in Pittsburgh

***W.A.S.P. – Stage AE , Pittsburgh, PA***

Hard to believe it has been 4 decades since W.A.S.P. unleashed their self titled debut album, affectionally referred to as Album One. To celebrate its reign in metal history, the band set out on tour – intent on delivering the album, front to back, with the same raw power, crunchy guitar riffs, and of course the band’s captivating stage presence.

As a storm swept through on the cold November evening in Pittsburgh, people lined up around the block at Stage A.E. ready to experience 1984 all over again. Vocalist Blackie Lawless, the only original member, is joined by long-standing members Mike Duda on bass, Doug Blair on guitar and Aquiles Priester on drums. Lawless and W.A.S.P have a reputation as one of the most provocative and electrifying acts in the genre, especially back in the day.

Throughout the course of the evening, with each searing solo from Blair, and the distinct vocal prowess of Lawless the band had the audience in chaos. Lawless’ has a legacy of blistering songwriting and he is clearly the backbone of W.A.S.P.‘s sound, the cornerstone of their song structures and dark lyrical themes. They may not have all been there for the past 40 years, however do not for one minute think that means they are not a tight-knit group of talented musicians who effortlessly complement one another in their playing and dynamic stage presence. Lawless is a savage player with an aggressive style of playing. He is a quintessential metal guitarist who can bash out riff after riff with sheer brute force. When not singing, he can be seen peering out into the crowd from behind the twisted wreckage of his microphone stand named Elvis. His piercing gaze dared the audience to keep up with the band’s breakneck pace.

The energy in the room was electric, with the crowd headbanging and singing right along until nearly breathless. The visual aspect of the show was equally captivating and the video backdrops added to the immersive experience of why and how W.A.S.P. has stood the test of time. Hopefully, there is much more W.A.S.P. in our future – I, for one, would love a new studio album and of course many more tours.

Armored Saint provided support on the tour once again. The metal veterans brought their signature brand of melodic power to the stage, electrifying the room with a mix of old-school classics and newer songs. Always a great live band and worth checking out if you get the chance.

W.A.S.P. 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
Inside The Electric Circus / I Don’t Need No Doctor / Scream Until You Like It {medley}
The Real Me { The Who cover}
Forever Free / The Headless Children
Wild Child
Blind In Texas