Armageddon Promotions NYC
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Complete Festival Line-up and set lists of (most of) the bands I saw at the end of the article
The Rage of Armageddon Festival - a three-day metal festival featuring more than two dozen bands spanning multiple subgenres of heavy metal from all over the world at a venue in Brooklyn.
The festival ended Sunday. Today is Tuesday.
So - full disclosure - I started writing the standard “this band played a set peppered with songs from their 30-plus-year catalog that had the crowd banging their heads…” typical review, right?
But promoter Ed Farshtey and his outstanding crew deserve more. Much more.
So instead of the usual “THIS BAND KICKED ASS!”
There are the little stories.
The Modelo can that got smashed but survived when my friend went toward the stage to get pictures of At War just as they were starting their set.
The pit during Atheist’s set that spilled over onto the Rage merch table because Atheist’s set was that legendary. Even though they were a “last minute addition” because Artillery hadn’t received their visa clearance in time - they definitely showed the crowd how classic technical thrash metal is done. It was a pleasure to watch them.
The Artillery fans I commiserated with about the band’s unfortunate visa woes - and my vow to take on the Danish embassy in Manhattan personally next time (and something about me bringing a box of *småkager* to smooth over the transaction).
How many times did I hear people say, “I never thought I’d be able to see this band?”
How many times did I hear, “How come I’ve never heard this band before?”
HOW MANY TIMES DID *I* SAY THAT????
How many conversations were started just by seeing someone walk by with an ultra-cool shirt?
“Bro, Angel Witch! Sick shirt!”
How many friendships were started in the backyard over a cigarette or while browsing the merch racks?
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With original L’Amour DJ Alex Kayne spinning the tunes between bands, the whole weekend had a very old-school vibe. For us headbangers of a certain age, it did feel like stepping back in time - even if our backs and knees reminded us days later that, no, it’s not the ’80s anymore.
When we walked in on Friday night, Morpheus Descends were in the middle of their set of old-school black metal. The floor was vibrating. The air was physically charged. The crowd was definitely pumped.
Every single band that played brought their A game. Even Sacred Oath, for example, was missing a member, and for a casual fan like me, I didn’t notice a drop in quality. I had seen them a few times over the years, and they still sounded outstanding. And “The Omen” sounded like classic Mercyful Fate, so I was in my glory.
Likewise with At War. I saw them in 2010 in their home base of Virginia Beach. You couldn’t tell 16 years had gone by. The new track “Midnight Hammer” is a total thrasher and fits right in with their classics like “Rape Chase,” “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS,” and “Eat Lead” - which singer Paul Arnold dedicated to anyone who thinks the U.S. deserved the terror attacks that happened on September 11.
At War also did a killer cover of Motörhead’s “The Hammer,” and my neck still hurts days later!
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I’m a big fan of old-school traditional metal. Wretch, to me, had more of a Manowar and Jag Panzer-type vibe, while Glacier were more on the European side of power metal, like Stormwitch or Running Wild.
I was telling complete strangers, “I REALLY LIKE THEM!! YO!!! THEY FUCKING RULE!!”
Ahem.
Gammacide were a good old-school thrash band, but by the time they went on, my feet were killing me, and I was enjoying their set from the backyard. They are definitely a band worth checking out, and they had a wild pit going for them.
The legendary Blood Feast was next.
Another band I had seen a few times, and they do not disappoint. I was told they had a different lineup, but the only member I recognized was guitarist CJ Scioscia (nice Dictators shirt).
The crowd lost their shit for them.
The entire room was a pit!
Up next was NWOBHM band Elixir.
I had seen them when they first played in the U.S. 20 years ago, and I had formed a friendship with them that still lasts to this day. I had an emotional reunion with guitarist Norman Gordon, drummer Nigel Dobbs, and singer Paul Taylor.
And new bassist Mark Mulcaster was a pleasure to talk to about Iron Maiden right before the band went on.
This is really the only part of the fest where I abandoned “serious journalist” mode and went into “emotional fan” mode.
I stood with my buddy PJ right at the front for the whole of Elixir’s set. The band played their seminal 1986 *Son of Odin* album in its entirety in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
I was there 20 years ago for the 20th anniversary - 20 years since I was in the photo pit for the first British Steel Festival in Milton Keynes, England, watching Elixir.
It was like no time had gone by.
Paul’s voice still has that same melodic timbre. The new guys fit right in - even though I did miss founding guitarist Phil Denton and his trademark SG on stage left, I have zero complaints about Vinny (who had his own SG). .
After Elixir’s set, I noticed my photographer Mike was looking exhausted and starving, and we both realized we weren’t going to make it for the next two bands - which was a shame because I was totally stoked for Medieval Steel and Leatherwolf.
Like I said earlier - the mind thinks I’m in my 20s, but the body knows that 45 is in the rearview mirror.
We said our goodbyes to old friends (it’s not going to be another 20 years!!!), got contact info for new friends, bought Rage of Armageddon swag, and headed out.
Oh yeah - the girl working the Rage merch table. She was an absolute doll. I wish I had her energy! She was totally into every single band, and she had so much enthusiasm that she was getting the crowd going. I loved her!
So, big thanks again to Ed and the crew for making this happen despite the cancellations, band emergencies, bureaucratic red tape, and all the other little bits of bullshit that come with the territory of putting together a massive festival like Rage of Armageddon IX.
It was a huge success, and I’m very lucky and proud to have been a part of it.
See you next year!
-Rys
Friday
Morpheus Descends Setlist
The Cruciform Hills
Immortal Coil
Way of All Flesh
Begging for Possession
The Martense Mansion
Submerged in Adipocere
Ritual of Infinity
Cairn of Dumitru
At War Setlist
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Assassins
Conscientious Objector
Creed of the Sniper
Ordered to Kill
Dawn Of Death
Rapechase
The Hammer (Motorhead cover)
Ilsa She wolf of the SS
Eat Lead.
Atheist Setlist
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Mother Man
Unquestionable Presence
Your Life's Retribution
Enthralled in Essence
An Incarnation's Dream
The Formative Years
Brains
And the Psychic Saw
Sunday
Wretch Set List
Mental Wars
Man or Machine
The Voice
Life
Final Stand
Strike Force 1
Eyes of Fate
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Magic Son
The Ferryman’s Lair
The Beginning
Shadow Out of Time
A Crystal Vision
The Omen
Two Powers
Wade Black's Astronomica Set List
Astronomica
Protectors of the Realm
Touch the Sun
Destiny
Monsters
Edge of Forever
War of the Worlds
Ready for Battle
Eldest and Truest
When Heavens At Hand
Devils in Disguise
Speak no Evil
Live for the Whip
Into the Night
Vendetta
Endangered species
Fossilized
Shock Treatment
Predator or Pray
Sinkhole
Walking Plague
Toxic Mercenaries
Victims of Science
Gutter Rats.
Elixir Set List:
The Star of Beshaan
Pandora's Box
Hold High the Flame
Children of Tomorrow
Trial by Fire
Starflight
Dead Man's Gold
Treachery (Ride Like the Wind)
Son of Odin
FRIDAY SEPT 11
8:50 - 9:50 - ATHEIST
7:40 - 8:30 - AT WAR
6:40 - 7:20 - MORPHEUS DESCENDS
5:40 - 6:20 - CASTRATOR
4:45 - 5:25 - COVEN 6669
4:00 - 4:30 - BASTARD SKULL
3:30 - DOORS
3:15 - VIP
SATURDAY SEPT 12
8:35 - 9:50 - MASSACRE
7:25 - 8:15 - DESOLATION ANGELS
6:20 - 7:05 - INSANITY
5:15 - 6:00 - BLACK WATER RISING
4:15 - 4:55 - MACHINE OF WAR
3:15 - 3:55 - MAUSOLEUM
2:30 - 3:00 - DROWNING IN BLOOD
1:45 - 2:15 - ELECTROCUTIONER
1:00 - 1:30 - DECEPTOR
12:30 - DOORS
12:15 - VIP
SUNDAY SEPT 13
9:00 -10:00- LEATHERWOLF
8:05 - 8:45 - MEDIEVAL STEEL
7:05 - 7:45 - ELIXIR
6:05 - 6:50 - BLOOD FEAST
5:05 - 5:45 - GAMMACIDE
4:10 - 4:45 - GLACIER
3:20 - 3:55 - ASTRONOMICA
2:30 - 3:05 - SACRED OATH
1:40 - 2:15 - WRETCH
12:55 - 1:25 - UNKNOWN
12:30 - DOORS
12:15 - VIP
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