At the Anaheim House of Blues on March 27th, the deafening roar of metal fandom echoed as Queensrÿche and Armored Saint delivered a show that could only be described as a commanding call to metal arms. With the “Origins” tour, these two monumental bands proved that their legacy is not etched in history books but is alive, searing through our era with undiminished fervor. Pound for pound, this killer performance was definitely one of my favorites this year and it wasn’t even close.
From the moment Armored Saint took the stage the energy was electric—palpable in every chord strike that ushered us “Over the Edge.” A flawless performance of the timeless “Can U Deliver” had the crowd singing every heart-racing riff, while “Reign of Fire” lived up to its name, engulfing the venue in a spirited blaze of head-banging ecstasy. John Bush’s relentless energy ricocheted off the walls, invigorating the crowd that had forsaken any notion of a quiet weekday evening. This set was special, and highlighted why Armored Saint is so beloved by so many, all around the world.
The seamless transition to Queensrÿche encapsulated the essence of an evening steeped in metal glory. Todd La Torre’s impeccable vocals, ringing out with the gravity of “Queen of the Ryche,” cemented the night’s epic status. It was sonic alchemy when they performed “Take Hold of the Flame,” each note sparking memories yet forging new ones in the crucible of the present. Perhaps the pinnacle for me was “Roads to Madness,” where in that spectacle, time seemed to stand still, the audience and band locked in a tableau of mutual admiration cast in shadow and light.
The rich tapestry of Queensrÿche’s set moved from strength to strength, a fierce reminder of the power of live music. The dark and shadowy lighting played counterpoint to the vibrant throwback visuals, setting a backdrop that was both nostalgic and tantalizingly current, highlighting that the songs off their self-titled EP and The Warning have weathered the ravages of time, defiant in their relevance. This is where it all started for Queensrÿche, and the sounds are just as impressive now as they were when these albums were originally released over 40 years ago.
From the onslaught of mosh pits to the precipice of fans rushing the stage, there’s no denying the show was a rallying cry that resonated with every soul present, each one bound by the chords of legends. The energy of the packed house never waned; if anything, it was a crescendo of spirits, reaching a zenith that even the confines of the venue could not contain. Sold out it may have been, but the night was more than capacity—it was the saturation of senses and the permeating sense of community. This was metal at its finest.
The comparison between Queensrÿche and Armored Saint, while inevitable, only served to highlight the richness of the metal genre. Each band reverberated with its own distinct resonance. Queensrÿche’s artistry lay in their ethereal execution of elaborate melodies, while Armored Saint’s raw power conjured the primal essence of metal. Both were sonically impeccable, yet they deftly demonstrated the genre’s range—from the calculated precision to the unbridled force of metal music.
Thinking back, the first stop of the “Origins” tour at the Anaheim House of Blues wasn’t merely a dual performance but a testament to the enduring symbiosis between the artist and aficionado. What transpired was not just a concert but a celebration, an homage to the very roots of metal—a genre that has, against all odds, retained its vigor and capacity to evolve without forsaking its essence.
For those who missed the phenomenon, the “Origins” tour stands as a reminder that to witness such maestros in action is to see metal’s heart beating strong and loud. Queensrÿche and Armored Saint continue to grace the stage, offering a taste of legacy and the promise of its ongoing evolution. In the fiery embers of that Wednesday evening, we saw metal’s past, present, and its assuredly mighty future.
ARMORED SAINT
