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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThird and final show of the Rocktober concert series at Ohio\u2019s BMI Event Center, and by now you\u2019ve seen the blueprint: venue owner Steve Barhorst books a classic christian metal band to open for a larger mainstream metal artist, often in the same styling, and we watch to see what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n SACRED WARRIOR, legendary power metal band originally from the Chicago area, needs no introduction. The band is still made up of 4 founding members: Rey Parra with the golden pipes, Bruce Swift on guitar, Steve Watkins on bass, and powerhouse Tony Velasquez on drums, with more recent member Tom Sanderson on keys. Second guitarist Jonathan Johnson is currently on family leave, while Larry Worley, of Love Life, Fear Not, Deny the Fallen fame, fills his shoes quite capably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Warrior were known in the late 80\u2019s\/early 90\u2019s for their hard hitting melodic power\/ progressive metal, topped by Parra\u2019s soaring vocals, inviting comparisons to Queensryche and Iron Maiden. The band juggled their setlist from Immortal and whittled it down to a bullet train of heaviness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Warrior opened with \u201cNo Happy Endings,\u201d from Wicked Generation<\/em>, returning to the concept album at times through their set. Next came \u201cTemples on Fire,\u201d from Obsessions, <\/em>that starts with a rousing drum sequence that rivals Judas Priest\u2019s \u201cPain Killer,\u201d and showcases the mad skills of one Tony Velasquez, who had a heart replacement surgery a handful of years ago and was told by doctors that he would never drum again. Thanks to God, Tony has proven them wrong again and again! Next, \u201cRebellion,\u201d title track from the debut merged right into the instrumental \u201cOnward Warriors\u201d from Master\u2019s Command<\/em>. \u201cRemember Me\u201d from Obsessions <\/em>has a softer haunting melody and proved to be the band\u2019s only \u201clighter\u201d mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWar Torn Hero\u201d is another heavy hitter from Wicked Generation<\/em>, followed by the depiction of Jesus\u2019 pursuit of us in \u201cMad Man\u201d from Obsessions<\/em>. \u201cDay of the Lord,\u201d from the debut (and opened their Immortal set) shows up late in their set this time, closing their stage time with a bang with the title track from Wicked Generation, <\/em>a poignant track showing just how unpolitically correct it is to read the Bible and take what it says to heart in this wicked generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, a short set, ground to a razor sharp point from our heroes. Sacred Warrior made mention beforehand, how much they had been inspired by Queensryche, and Rey, who can play the ham at times, made a point that there would be no fooling around and he would cut out a lot of the inter-song banter. And that they did, other than Rey encouraging \u201cEverybody up!\u201d a couple times- but just when my heart began crying out for a message that this rare opportunity would not be lost, guitarist Bruce stepped up and gave a brief message of hope, establishing the fact that the band are Christians, and that they don\u2019t look down on you if you\u2019re not believers, but if you find yourself looking for something (or Someone) to look the band up on the internet and talk to them. Just what needed to be said. For believers, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the words to say before our human minds can even comprehend them. The fans seemed to thoroughly enjoy Sacred Warrior and appreciate their musicianship and won many over as fans. Of the 3 concerts, Warrior had the largest crowd of Christian metalheads out to support them, and the largest number of the crowd standing for their performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n QUEENSRYCHE is also a band needing little introduction. The Seattle area band has been playing their theatrical blend of power and progressive metal since 1981. In spite of their very public divorce with original singer Geoff Tate in 2012, the band soldiers on with original guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson, joined by the talented Todd La Torre on vocals, Mike Stone on guitar, and Casey Grillo on drums. Ryche\u2019s musicianship is sharper than ever, and after treating the audience to a brand new song, they played many of their hits, including numbers from the ever popular Operation Mindcrime<\/em> and Empire albums<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The volume for their set was exceptionally loud, enough to send fans looking for earplugs, and some to leave prematurely. I did not encounter the singer, but interactions with the rest of the band were amicable, except for their road manager, who was rather demanding and unsavory to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though this marks the end of the Rocktober concert series, I am sure there will be more of these \u201cheaven and hell\u201d type concerts in Ohio and hopefully elsewhere. If you see any coming up, please take the time and effort to make a road trip out to support our christian metal bands. They will appreciate it, and as much as I\u2019ve enjoyed spending time with Saint, Whitecross, and Sacred Warrior, I know that you\u2019ll enjoy the bands too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SACRED WARRIOR\/ QUEENSRYCHE show- Oct.21, 2023- BMI Event Center,Versailles, OH by Chris Gatto Photos by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1025,1020],"tags":[2291,302],"class_list":["post-10288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-report","category-review","tag-queen-sryche","tag-sacred-warrior"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20231021_191828-1-1024x768.jpg\")
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