Ace of Spades is a short drive from my home, here in Sacramento, but unless I really want to deal with humans, I do not get there often. In this town, I do not know security, the will-call person, or anyone for that matter, so when I do go it is always a crap shoot if something goes sideways. However, this time I made sure I was getting in; no matter if a photopass was waiting for me or not. With tickets in hand, I was not missing this show, I checked in!

Since the early 80’s the two bands have been earworms to the metal masses. From KNAC (If you have to ask then you just don’t know), KLOS, KMET, and MTV Armored Saint and Queensryche have been mainstays in my metal repertoire. This tour was special, it was a celebration of the release of 1983’s Queensryche, their self-titled EP and their mindblowing 1984’s full album release, The Warning.

Armored Saint fronted by John Bush, one of the most iconic voices in metal history was rumored to have been considered, by James Hetfield himself, to front Metallica and a very successful multi-album stint in Anthrax. One of Thrash Metal’s most influential legacy acts. The band came out on a tear, ready to rip up the stage for Sacramento’s metal-hungry masses. Opening with “End of the Attention Span” from 2020’s Punching the Sky (Metal Blade Records), they ripped and tore through eight more of their finest tracks: 1987’s “Raising Fear,” “Tribal Dance” and “Last Train Home” from 1991’s Symbol of Salvation. It’s been 40 years since their debut dropped and “March of the Saint” is as metal as ever and marked the midway point of their set. The back half started another track from 2020’s Punching the Sky’s, “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” followed up by a banger: the title track from 2015’s Win Hands Down. When you have a career like Armored Saint, you have your choice of closers. The last two songs are the “Dennis Eckersley” of closers… “Can You Deliver” and “Reign of Fire,” although from early in their career. These songs are the gold standard of eighties metal and will reign supreme forever! Hopefully, it won’t be another eight years between Armored Saint playing here in SacTown!!!

 

Armored Saint setlist:
End of the Attention Span
Raising Fear
Tribal Dance
Last Train Home
March of the Saint
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Win Hands Down
Can U Deliver
Reign of Fire

 

Queensryche, as far as I am concerned, are one of the bands from that era who kept the fire going throughout the changes in the musical landscape. As in most cases, most groups there have seen their share of band member changes. Yes, even vocals! However, there are not many times that the lead singer is equal, and to some even surpasses the original. Especially, in a band where the vocal requirements are legendary.

This show commemorated the very beginnings of Washington state’s metal masters. This show featured nearly every song from their, above-mentioned four-song EP and debut albums. Frontman Todd La Torre has been in the band for 14 years and has carved out his own legacy in this iconic band and on this night made, with no disrespect to his predecessor, these songs his own!!! If you closed your eyes you would have been transported back in time to some smoke-filled mid-80s club or auditorium, listening to the genesis of one of the greatest metal bands in the genre’s history.

From out of the gate Queensryche re-visiting 1983’s self-titled EP was beyond badass. I’m sure I’ve heard most if not all these songs over the years, but this was an experience! All four songs played how the band intended their fans to hear them, in order… EPIC!

After a number of “wardrobe changes” aka Todd’s jacket, the band busted right into tracks off their 1984 debut full-length album, The Warning. “Warning,” “En Force,” “Deliverance,” “No Sanctuary,” “Child of Fire,” and “Roads to Madness.” Watching original band members guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson keep hold of the flame is always amazing. Current band members: drummer Casey Grillo and guitarist Mike Stone rounding out the guys rocking the stage.

The energy is visible and fire still blazes for this band and the chorus singing crowd could feel it. Metal signs and fist-pumping fanatics ate up everything the band played. All eras of the band were represented in the crowd. Vintage pit-worn t-shirts of every shape, and size and authenticity, for that matter, let you know the true fans were on hand.

Unlike 2023’s tour, the already played “The Warning” was not part of the encore, instead the night ended by returning to 1984’s The Warning’s “The Prophecy” and 1990’s epic track “Empire!” 

Sadly, another great tour has come and gone for Sacramento and we are should consider ourselves lucky to have been a part of this music celebration of two of the most amazing metal bands to have been sharing their talents for 40-plus years!

 

Queensrÿche setlist:

EP:
Queen of the Reich
Nightrider
Blinded
The Lady Wore Black

The Warning:
Warning
En Force
Deliverance
No Sanctuary
Child of Fire
Roads to Madness

 

Encore:
Prophecy
Empire

Buy Queensryche music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/3UalEnC

Buy Armored Saint music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/4aJPBRr

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY HARDROCKCORE