Savage Master @ Reggies Music Joint, Chicago (US)

SAVAGE MASTER / NITE / HEROINE SENTINEL / NIGHTFREAK

Date: 25th June, 2025
Venue: Reggies Music Joint
Ticket Price: $20/€17
Promoter: Empire Productions

SAVAGE MASTER and NITE are currently touring the East Coast, showcasing two distinct aspects of the True Heavy Metal genre. SAVAGE MASTER, the hooded lineup led by Stacey Savage, deliver in-your-face Heavy Metal with NWOBHM-styled guitars and old-school clean vocals. I highlight the vocals because NITE, while cut from the same old-school Metal cloth, take a sharp turn with borderline growling vocals, adding a sinister twist to their otherwise classic Heavy Metal sound. This is my way of explaining the basics to those who tend to judge Metal genres, based only on vocal style.

We wanted to check all the bands and made sure to arrive early enough to park. Little did we know… Our initial happiness at seeing empty parking spots would be soon crushed when we realized there was an event at Soldier Field. Prioritizing parking for stadium-goers may be necessary, but it’s frustrating when side streets are blocked off only to remain semi-empty. Pardon my rant, but that detour cost us time - and we ended up missing NIGHTFREAK.

Thankfully, the atmosphere inside Reggies’ Music Joint had nothing to do with a typical Wednesday night. Plenty of people were already there, enjoying the nice, hot weather and catching up before HEROINE SENTINEL’s set. Seeing a few friends was a huge plus too. Inside, HEROINE SENTINEL was ready to present their Heavy Metal. As is often the case, there was a small awkward gap between the crowd and the stage - but it was up to this five-piece to change that.

I think the band kicked off their set with the epic “For All Time”, which helped me get a sense of HEROINE SENTINEL’s sound. Mik Dempsey’s high pitched vocals carry a Todd Michael Hall vibe, fitting perfectly within the traditional Heavy Metal sound. Drummer Chris Avgerin and bassist Jose Salazar already had my attention with their work with PROFESSOR EMERITUS, and guitarist Tapedeck was a standout as well, trading riffs smoothly with Jose. Tapedeck began with tasteful leads before launching into the galloping rhythm of “Huntress”; Jose had brought out his double-bass for added visual and sound effect.

HEROINE SENTINEL fought the uphill battle of being one of the two opening bands and won, leaving behind plenty of smiling faces waiting for NITE to bring a darker shade to our otherwise classic Heavy Metal night.

HEROINE SENTINEL

The closer we got to the NITE set, the less space there was in front of the stage – a clear sign that people were eager to see the San Francisco band live. Having seen them before, I knew they’d exceed expectations. Was I wrong? Hell no.

A taped intro cut through the chatter as the all-black-clad NITE took their places and blasted into the pounding “Ezelia”, introducing their BATHORY-inspired Heavy Metal. The main riff defines epic - and it was a treat to watch Van Labrakis and Scott Hoffman trade guitar leads. Van, smiling between verses, and Scott, fluid in motion, were perfectly in sync. Scott, who plays in a couple of other bands I follow, seems to tailor his style effortlessly to each genre. Van roamed the stage, while bassist Avinash Mittur connected with the crowd, and drummer Patrick Crawford attacked the kit with unrelenting force.

NITE have clearly evolved, and their latest album, “Cult Of The Serpent Sun”, captures their identity perfectly. The SAVATAGE-like mid-tempo riffs of “Crow (Fear The Night)” highlighted the band’s strengths; from catchy-melodies and MANILLA ROAD-styled leads to the soaked in nostalgia guitars. All this created a striking contrast with Van’s now-raspier (and slightly less growling) vocals compared with the band’s previous albums.

NITE didn’t miss a beat with “Acheron”, a track that bridges the band’s debut with their current sound. Singing along to “in the land of gold / lead them all, to you” while watching Van and Scott jam back-to-back, grinning ear to ear, was a moment of pure joy.

Sure, Van could’ve said a few words between songs - but then again, how do you interrupt the crushing riffs of “Skull” or the lyric line “This skull will never be yours”? That’s so rewarding to sing-along! Plus, the Eastern flair in the solo section sounded even better at full concert volume. On second thought, I take back my comment - because launching straight into the thunderous “Cult Of The Serpent Sun” with its throbbing basslines and Doomy groove, said more than any speech could. The cryptic “death, death eternal” verse hit like a sermon, with the audience headbanging and shouting along.

Nostalgia surfaced again with “Carry On”, featuring JUDAS PRIEST-esque guitars (think of the “Defenders Of The Faith” era) and minimalist lyrics, perfect for a live setting. This is the kind of track that reflects the resilience baked into old-school Metal mentality, something fans like us grew up with.

“The Trident” got some lively reaction, and it suddenly clicked that NITE had a serious fanbase in Chicago. “The trident, the trident” was too loud to ignore, and as the band said goodnight, I had to eat my earlier words. Maybe we do need to bring NITE back to Chicago for a headlining gig: give Van more time to talk, and all of us more than just seven songs to feast on. Thanks, guys. See you soon - I hope.

NITE setlist:

01. "Ezelia"
02. "Crow (Fear The Night)"
03. "Acheron"
04. "Skull"
05. "Cult Of The Serpent Sun"
06. "Carry On"
07. "The Trident"

NITE

Now it was SAVAGE MASTER’s turn to face an already fired-up crowd – and obviously I am not talking about the extra humid Chicago summer, but the energy left behind by NITE’s fantastic set. Despite having seen SAVAGE MASTER many times, I was still excited, and that says a lot. The band keeps getting better with each album, each tour, each show. Sure, gigging often builds confidence, but in SAVAGE MASTER’s case, they continuously spice up their performances. With Stacey front and center, and Nicholas Burks wielding his guitar like a weapon, there’s always an extra flair.

Around 10:30pm, with the stage bathed in smoke and '70s-hued lighting, the lineup appeared – minus Stacey, of course. Their hooded purple capes matched the cover art of the band’s latest record, “Dark & Dangerous”. Yes, art demands sacrifice, and that includes performing under layers of fabric in stifling heat.

The moment the NWOBHM riff of “Hunt At Night” kicked in, excitement surged. The ‘80s JUDAS PRIEST-inspired rhythm guitars paired with Stacey’s throwback vocals had the crowd fist-pumping and singing along. The chalice of fake blood? Just the icing on the cake. Stacey’s stage presence evokes another era; one where theatrics served the music, not trends. Too few female vocalists tap into that magic today.

Speaking of theatrics: what could she use for “With Whips And Chains”? A whip, of course. This time, it was guitarist River Jordan who took the lashes, earning loud cheers in the process. No one got hurt – visibly, at least. The band leans heavily into vintage horror aesthetics, and for “Child Of The Witch”, Stacey entered the stage like a female Vincent Price, holding a three-candle candelabra and moving like she was about to cast (or summon) evil.

“How you doing tonight? Thanks for joining us,” said Stacey, giving a shout-out to the other bands of the billing before launching into the MAIDEN-esque “The Hangman’s Tree”. Singing “There’s no one who cries for me / at dawn I lose my life” makes this feel like their own “Hallowed Be Thy Name” – it kind of shares the same sense of grim destiny.

SAVAGE MASTER, like NITE, spent little time on banter. When not playing, Nicholas teased the audience while Stacey changed costumes to fit each song’s mood. The galloping “Warrior’s Call” urged headbanging, while “Myth, Magic & Steel” brought a ceremonial dagger on stage for Stacey to (symbolically) sacrifice both guitarists. Then came “Never Ending Fire”, introduced by Adam Neal’s near-Punk bassline, and “Crystal Gazer”, which hit all the right spots with its US Power Metal force.

After thanking the audience, Stacey asked, “Are you ready to worship the devil?” Cue “Devil Rock” (oh ohhhhhhh) and an enthusiastic cheer. I kept scanning for the devil-looking figure to appear and sure enough, it made a brief appearance. No matter, though; the crowd was locked in, chanting and singing along ever single song. The DIAMOND HEAD-styled riff of “Spirit Of Death” and the MERCYFUL FATE-inspired guitars of “The Ripper In Black” sounded extremely good, with Stacey donning a cape adorned with silver, little spiderwebs for the latter.

Everything sounded so good, I completely lost track of time. As the DANZIG-esque “Black Rider” faded out, Stacey announced, “Come on, Chicago – this is the last one.” Damn, time really does fly when you’re having a blast. “Ready To Sin” closed the set, and the crowd’s chants for an encore weren’t quite enough to bring them back. But make no mistake: SAVAGE MASTER hit the gas right from the start and never let up. This was one of the best performances I’ve seen from them.

Until the next one, right?

SAVAGE MASTER setlist:

01. "Hunt At Night"
02. "With Whips And Chains"
03. "Child Of The Witch"
04. "The Hangman's Tree"
05. "Warriors Call"
06. "Myth, Magic And Steel"
07. "Never Ending Fire"
08. "Crystal Gazer"
09. "Devil Rock"
10. "Spirit Of Death"
11. "The Ripper In Black"
12. "Black Rider"
13. "Ready To Sin"

SAVAGE MASTER