The Sunset Strip in Hollywood had its hairday in the ‘80s. The New Wave of British Metal enjoyed its influx of influential bands that went on to carve their own niche in history.
San Antonio and South Texas? Well, the Heavy Metal Capital was building its scene during that same time frame with a horde of bands mostly unique to its geographical mecca.
South Texas metal four decades ago was comprised of artists filled with precocious teenagers and 20-somethings unleashing their brand of angst, riffs and high-pitched screams yearning to be heard by the world. As the NWOBHM and Los Angeles scenes exploded with legendary artists that produced album after album after album, a bulk of San Antonio’s early ‘80s artists put out an album or EP here and there before branching out into other projects.
Or coming to a halt altogether.
But that turn of events for artists such as Watchtower, Militia, Karion, Juggernaut, S.A. Slayer and Wicked Angel resulted in a more close-knit scene than those other two more famous factions could claim. That camaraderie has enabled many involved with those bands to reunite on occasion decades later and join forces to show they’ve still got it.
Collectively calling their all-star formation the South Texas Legion, the latest special occasion occurred Friday night at Fitzgerald’s for a $20 sold-out gig dubbed The Masters of Chaos highlighted by Watchtower’s first show with vocalist Jason McMaster in 19 years. Helstar vocalist James Rivera brought his James Rivera’s Metal Asylum bandmates to provide support and played a special set of classic Helstar tracks before spearheading the South Texas Legion jams. And Wicked Angel began the festivities with another riveting and fiery (literally) set.
First, Watchtower: The Austin-based progessive and technically refined metal act fronted by the Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Ignitor and Evil United vocalist specializes in out-of-this-world time signature changes and unpredictable directions in its riffage courtesy of San Antonio guitarist Ron Jarzombek, bassist Doug Keyser and drummer Rick Colaluca.
Jarzombek and Keyser were a whirling dervish of musicians encircling McMaster around the stage frequently while playing a slew of songs from its lone two full-length albums: 1985’s Energetic Disassembly and 1989’s Control and Resistance (see setlist in 60-photo gallery).
Watch ATM’s Facebook Live footage of the first two songs Watchtower played on stage since 2004 — “Asylum” and “The Eldritch” — here.
McMaster joked after one song to Keyser and Jarzombek, “Why don’t you guys put a few more notes in that song? You probably need to add a thousand more notes to that one.” That’s because the duo’s technical mastery was on full display as if they had been playing together continuously the past 40 years. Further evidence can be seen below via ATM footage on the title track to Control and Resistance plus “The Fall of Reason” and “Tyrants in Distress.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Watchtower ended a set that lasted from 11:41 p.m.-1:07 a.m. by playing the first half of Rush’s 1975 epic tune “By-tor and the Snow Dog,” a complicated track Jarzombek can perform in his sleep largely due to his inclusion in Rush tribute band Exit Stage Left (ATM footage below).
The middle of the evening was set aside for James Rivera’s Metal Asylum transitioning into Rivera and Militia vocalist Mike Soliz bringing the South Texas Legion to fruition.
The South Texas Legion appeared five years ago on the same stage (ATM coverage here) for an evening that was half Q&A, half feelgood jam session.
This time, the entire night was concert oriented. Rivera’s Metal Asylum focused on a classic early ‘80s set of his Houston band Helstar backed by San Antonio’s Ozzy Espinoza and Craig Leach on guitars, Blood Moon frontman Michael Canales on bass and drummer Miguel Morales of Megadeth tribute Rust In Peace. Watch them in action via ATM Facebook Live footage of Helstar’s “The King Is Dead” and “Bitter End.”
Soliz helped the Metal Asylum end its set with Helstar’s “Run With the Pack,” a perfect segue into Soliz leading an onslaught of early South Texas metal brethren hitting the stage as South Texas Legion. But first, Soliz joked: “This is how I got in for free tonight to see Watchtower.”
And with that, it was time for Militia, Karion, S.A. Slayer and Juggernaut songs and personnel to take center stage. Guitarists Tony Smith, Scott Womack and Art Villareal, bassist Pete Perez and drummers Chip Alexander and Bobby Jarzombek teamed up to play Militia’s “Metal Axe,” Karion’s “Panzer” and Juggernaut’s “All Hallows Eve,” all of which can be viewed via ATM Facebook Live footage here.
There were several references to old-school venues such as The Cameo Theatre and Villa Fontana. The latter, of course, featured the Nov. 30, 1984, “Slayer vs. Slayer” gig of San Antonio Slayer and Los Angeles’ Slayer on the same stage when the thrash band that eventually became part of the Big 4 toured in support of its 1983 EP Haunting the Chapel. Former S.A. Slayer guitarist Villareal gave a shout-out to the late S.A. Slayer vocalist Steve Cooper as Rivera and Co. took the reins on “Final Holocaust” (ATM footage below).
S.A. Slayer was one of those bands that only released one full-length album and one EP. But its roster was a who’s-who of San Antonio metal including Villareal, Cooper, longtime and current Riot bassist Don Van Stavern, former Machine Head drummer Dave McClain, Ron Jarzombek replacing Villareal in 1984, guitarist Bob “Bob Dog” Catlin (who was part of the 2018 South Texas Legion at Fitzgerald’s) and one-time Fates Warning vocalist Chris Cronk. Van Stavern was unable to make Friday’s conglomeration of San Antonio metal because Riot is playing in Germany.
For those reading this outside of Texas wondering how San Antonio could be dubbed the Heavy Metal Capital given the aforementioned, more publicized, metal movements — it’s a combination of this storied San Antonio scene and the fact renowned late disc jockey Joe “The Godfather” Anthony gave numerous European, German and Canadian bands their first taste of American radio airplay in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s: Scorpions, Rush, Triumph, Killer Dwarfs, Judas Priest . . . the list goes on.
Wicked Angel’s 45-minute opening performance, meanwhile, set the tone splendidly for Fitzgerald’s filled house.
Vocalist Dave Caballero, guitarists Joseph Valdez and Roland Casias, bassist Raymond Castaneda and drummer Ernest Chavarria brought a slew of fans to their warm-up show two days prior. Technical difficulties and a damaged double-bass drum pedal threatened to spoil Friday’s party, but that was not an option for Wicked Angel.
Chavarria engulfed his set in flames as is the band’s traditional way of starting. Cloaked in his patented black robe, Caballero’s high-pitched vocals and melodies helped kick off “Legions of the Dead” and “Black Mass.”
Valdez began the mentions of the Cameo Theatre and other now-defunct San Antonio metal venues while introducing Wicked Angel’s version of “Breaking the Spell” (ATM footage below), originally done by San Antonio’s Wyzard.
Wyzard featured 18-and-19 year olds such as Gilbert “Buster” Grant on vocals, guitarist Mike Valenzuela, bassist John Alvarado and the late drummer Rene Cox. Alvarado was in attendance Friday, while Grant nowadays fronts Livin’ Dark Daze.
Barely getting a chance to digest Watchtower’s first onstage appearance in nearly two decades, McMaster mentioned he was about to get on a plane to Denver to perform with Dangerous Toys.
However, Watchtower is also headed to Germany on Oct. 7 before kicking off 2024 on Jan. 5 in its hometown of Austin’s Come And Take It Live (tickets here). McMaster plugged that show by saying, “Lots of cool air conditioning. No offense. I like sweaty shows.”
Many would-be concertgoers who slacked on buying tickets were left watching social media for footage rather than being at Fitzgerald’s live and in the flesh. And yes, there were some technical difficulties and lukewarm temperatures in the venue on another muggy 100-degree night — a dilemma that has plagued various San Antonio bars in the past when they’re hosting some of their biggest shows of the year.
But none of that could stifle San Antonians’ dedication to a 40th anniversary of sorts for a burgeoning host of South Texas metal mainstays.
The legion is alive and well. And its legacy will only continue to live on and grow in the heavy metal capital. And beyond.
