What a great night of classic heavy metal this was! Both bands lead by legendary guitarists whose contributions into the world of heavy metal are simply impossible to describe. Both, Wolf Hoffmann and K.K. Downing are accomplished players in their fields who are still very much creative and have a strong will to move forward!
Accept took the stage first, and unleashed the triple axe-attack upon the Chicago audience. Opening with The Reckoning off the brand-new album ,Humanoid, and then of course following with the title track from the same album. Both, very strong tracks and got the audience going within seconds.
Accept’s longevity produced many fine classic songs, and the expectations were high. Due to co-headlining status, the time on stage was limited. The band still played many of the great classics such as Restless and Wild, London leatherboys, Princess of the Night, or Metal Heart. Timeless classics that always generate an enthusiastic response. The group was tight, and played all of the songs with great excitement. Wolf Hoffmann delivered many great leads, and his tone towered over the Des Plaines Theater. Singer, Mark Tornillo, sounded great tonight. He was very entertaining, and nailed each note with energy and conviction.
Of course, no Accept show would be complete without Fast as a Shark, and Balls to the Wall. Both songs sounded monstrous, and even after four decades they still light up the room on fire. Accept kept them in the set all the way to the end, and by then they’ve built an absolute momentum. Great combination of old and new tracks from a classic band was a fine recipe for success. Accept knew how to materialize on that!
KK’s Priest hit the stage like Hellfire Thunderstorm, which was also the opening track. Followed by Strike of the Viper, and One More Shot at Glory. Those three tracks instantly set the mood for the evening. Not to say Accept didn't already do that. This was a metal fury delivered by a hungry band that simply wanted to kick your ass! They pretty much kept doing that all the way until the end of the show. If you still haven't check out KK's Priest's latest album, The Sinner Rides Again, stop right here, and go get that record now!
The band was like a well-oiled machine, delivering each song with intensity and perfection. K.K. Downing’s Judas Priest legacy was represented as well, and rightfully so. Before you knew it, the sounds of Ripper, Night Crawler, Burn in Hell, Hell Patrol, The Green Manalishi, and Breaking the Law filled the room. The two biggest surprises were Before the Dawn, and Sinner. Vocalist, Tim Owens, was in fantastic shape. His voice was soaring, and he made every song sound great. The band itself became even more solid live than they were last March during their initial U.S. tour. K.K. Downing played with renewed enthusiasm, running around the stage, and nailing every riff and lead. Seasoned player who knows his craft well.
KK’s Priest proved once again they are a great band, and have a lot of potential. The superb new tracks, and the addition of Judas Priest classics will always make them a good draw. Having seen KK’s Priest twice, this writer can assure you that you will always get a great show from this crew. They are not afraid to sweat, and get dirty. This is heavy metal royalty at its best! And this goes for both Accept and KK's Priest!
Mark Kadzielawa
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