White Wizzard -- Kansas City, MO -- August 9th, 2012

Despite it being the first night of the tour and despite the two opening touring bands not playing the first date of the tour, White Wizzard put on a phenomenal show. Even though they go through more lineup changes than a preseason football squad, the group they have now are phenomenal. Their new lead guitarists can both shred, but I was on the side of Jake Dreyer and he was melting my face in every song. There was a nice, thick, Maiden-esque bass sound to every song, and the new vocalist Joseph just added to everything. They were really appreciative and there were more than a few fans in the audience that were headbanging and singing along with a ton of the songs.

The coolest part of the night was when someone pointed out that there were a few underage kids (the venue was 21+) were watching through the windows out on the street. Near the end of their set, someone opened the door right next to the window, and during a song, guitarist Jake walked outside and started playing to those two kids! It was so awesome. My friend and I went out there and headbanged with them! I remember when I stood outside that same venue to watch Exodus in the freezing sleet because I wasn't 21. White Wizzard totally made those kids have a memorable night!

Every song they played was awesome, especially the older stuff like 40 Deuces, Over The Top and High Speed GTO. Iron Goddess Of Vengeance was really heavy, too. Just all around good sound and great performance from the band.

We didn't get Icarus Witch and Widow, who will be on later dates of the tour. Direct support came from local heavy/power metal band Ancient Creation. One guitar, bass, drums and vocalist, but they were really heavy. They're older dudes, so instead of just emulating that classic heavy metal sound, they are the real deal! Their songs Apocalypse and Bringer Of Evil were awesome, and they can really shred.

Opening the show was good ol' Vanlade. The power/speed/thrash powerhouse added a second guitarist to their lineup again, and it only added another layer of awesome to their sound. This might have been the best time I've seen them, and they ended with a cover of Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild. Awesome!

Such a great show, even though some of the bands fell through. Next time!

White Wizzard:

Torpedo Of Truth (new song)
40 Deuces
Celestina
Out Of Control
Starchild
Flying Tigers
Iron Goddess Of Vengeance
Fall Of Atlantis
Over The Top
High Speed GTO

Ancient Creation included:

Apocalypse
Bringer of Evil

Vanlade included:

Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf cover)

White Wizzard: 9/10
Ancient Creation: 8/10
Vanlade: 8/10

Upcoming show: White Wizzard/Icarus Witch/Widow

I'm not well-versed in any of these bands, but the thought of this show coming here is amazing. This is going to be such a solid night of heavy metal! These great bands will be at the Riot Room on August 9th. Attend in your patch jacket, or don't come at all!

Forbidden --- Kansas City, MO --- June 27th, 2011

Wow!

What an amazing show! Every single band was spot-on and really fun. My neck is going to be killing me tomorrow.

I got to The Beaumont Club about halfway through local epic band Vanlade. For those who don't know, Vanlade play an infectious brand of power/speed metal, not too much unlike old-school Manowar or Judas Priest. They sounded great tonight and the crowd was receptive as always.

The first of the touring bands was Havok, and I was most excited to see them. I am a huge sucker for new thrash bands, and Havok pretty much stands far above the rest of the field. They opened their set with a savage one-two punch of "No Amensty" followed right by "Fatal Intervention" and every head was banging. They actually saw my post on Facebook about requesting a song off of their new album, which they obliged and thanked me for! The song was "DOA", and it sounded fantastic. They ended with yet another blistering rendition of "Afterburner" that immolated all posers within a 50 mile radius.

I was actually a little wary about White Wizzard being on the bill, but they were actually awesome! Every member of the band is really talented, especially their bassist! I only knew their opener "Over The Top" but they ripped through their set. I guarantee that if we could get a time machine and go get Iron Maiden circa 1979-1982 and bring them to modern times, they'd be White Wizzard.

Another big reason for attending this show was Revocation. It was my third time seeing them. Although the sound wasn't nearly as good as I wished it could be, the band more than made up for it. Dave Davidson really earned his title of the Best Modern Metal Guitarist from MetalSucks. His solo on "Age of Iniquity" was worth the price of admission alone, and they've gotten so good at playing "Dismantle The Dictator" that the performance of that song will be considered legendary in time.

I can cross Forbidden off my list of legendary thrash bands to see. I had so much fun screaming along with them to classics like "Step By Step" and "Off The Edge", but even their new songs ripped, especially "Omega Wave"! Their setlist on the stage had only 10 songs on it, but they added a few, including "RIP" and a cover of Black Sabbath's "Children Of The Sea" which sounded surprisingly great! They ended the set with thrash anthem "Chalice Of Blood" and members of all the opening bands came out to sing the chorus. It was a fantastic way to end the night. Although there weren't a ton of people at this show, we let Forbidden and all the other bands know that we really appreciated and loved them for coming through time. Now to go rest my neck...

Forbidden setlist:

Forsaken at the Gates
Overthrow
Off the Edge
Forbidden Evil
Step by Step
Adapt or Die
Omega Wave
Twisted Into Form
R.I.P.
Through Eyes of Glass
Children Of The Sea (Black Sabbath cover)
Chalice of Blood

Revocation setlist:

Re-AniManiac
Cradle Robber (new song)
Age of Iniquity
Dismantle the Dictator
Conjuring the Cataclysm (new song)
Unattained

White Wizzard partial setlist:

Over The Top
White Wizzard
High Speed GTO

Havok setlist:

No Amnesty
Fatal Intervention
Morbid Symmetry
D.O.A.
Covering Fire
Afterburner

Vanlade partial setlist:

Life By The Blade
Blood Eagle

Forbidden: 9/10
Revocation: 8.5/10
White Wizzard: 8/10
Havok: 9.5/10
Vanlade: 8/10

Thrash All Summer Long!

You've got DRI, Nocturnal, Witchaven, Holy Grail all in May. Want to continue the thrash into the summer? YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED:

June 27th...

Kansas City...

The Beaumont Club...

Thrash metal legends...

FORBIDDEN

will make their mark to be felt by the midwest for years to come!

Support comes from Revocation, White Wizzard, and Havok!

This will easily be one of the best shows ever to grace our city in quite some time. BE THERE!