If you haven’t figure out by now, I’ll take any opportunity I can get to cover NWOBHM legends Satan. Besides the fact that they’re one of the greatest metal bands of all time and naturally photogenic (especially Russ, my goodness), they’re also great company to be around, always quick with a witty joke or thrilling tale of metal yesteryear. So when the itinerary dropped for the second US leg of their ongoing Songs in Crimson Tour, and the closest date was a Friday night in Madison, Wisconsin, roughly two hours north, I hopped into my car and hit the road. Have Satan, will travel!
Now this specific set was special for a multitude of reasons. For one, it was a headline performance as part of the annual Blades of Steel festival. Yes, the very band who sang “Blades of Steel” were now able to finally perform the metal hymn at a festival named in their honor. This was an event years in the making. Satan were originally booked to headline the inaugural addition of the fest, set for 2020, and we all know what happened there. Fast forward a half decade later and Satan treated the Midwest metal maniacs with a set that was well worth the wait, and fitting for an event that, I cannot emphasize enough, was well organized and kickass from start to finish. Major kudos to Randy Kastner for putting this event on!
As for Satan, no pun intended, the band were absolutely on fire. While the setlist remained mostly in line with this past March’s set at Reggies in Chicago (the key word there is “mostly”, more on that soon), such routine didn’t make the band’s performance any less thrilling! In fact, I’d go as far to say this was the finest Satan set I’ve caught to date. New songs like “Sacramental Rites” and “Turn the Tide” continue to grow on me, so much so that I regret giving Songs in Crimson a mere 9/10 rating as opposed to a 10/10. Their celebrated ’10s output continues to grow in legend, songs such as “Twenty Twenty Five” and “Ophidian” received as warmly as those classic tunes off Court in the Act.
Speaking of that landmark ’83 album, the band played the usual bunch off that album in the form of “Trial by Fire”, “Break Free”, “Alone in the Dock”, and the aforementioned “Blades of Steel”. During these songs, two thoughts crossed my mind: 1. Russ Tippins might be the most musically fruitful graduate from the University of Blackmore (Sorry Yngwie!) and 2. Shame on me for not paying more attention to Steve Ramsey. Between his output with Satan and Skyclad, there’s no denying Ramsey’s status as a true metal trailblazer. Yet it was during the “Trial by Fire” solos on this particular night that I couldn’t help but stand, jaw hanging open, in absolute awe of his Gibson SG pyrotechnics. Steve, if you’re reading this, please forgive my igorance!
I mentioned earlier a slight setlist deviation, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t close out this review without mentioning such: A one-two punch of an encore consisting of ripping speedster “Siege Mentality” and NWOBHM anthem “Kiss of Death”. Shockingly, this was my first time hearing both songs live. During the latter, I couldn’t help but bang my head until my neck damn near gave out, my fellow metallists and I with our arms over each other’s shoulders, raging in unison. That, my friends, is what heavy metal is all about. To Satan, Randy Kastner, and the good people of Madison, I give you all a double horns salute!
Setlist
- “Into the Fire” (Intro)
- “Trial by Fire”
- “Blades of Steel”
- “Ascendancy”
- “Burning Portrait”
- “Break Free”
- “Sacramental Rites”
- “The Devil’s Infantry”
- “Twenty Twenty Five”
- “Ophidian”
- “Turn the Tide”
- “Into the Mouth of Eternity”
- “Testimony”
- “Alone in the Dock”
Encore
- “Siege Mentality”
- “Kiss of Death”
