It was only 2022 that W.A.S.P. decided to come back to tour the United States. Between health issues for Blackie Lawless and promoters having no faith in the band to draw, their 2022 US Tour was a resounding success on multiple levels, proving the band was a force to be reckoned with. Now we’ve got a second tour of the US with the Album One Alive World Tour that hit the Hollywood Palladium on December 14th, 2025. For fans in the US, it was the final show on the tour where the band played the entirety of their first album (not front to back though) and then some extra songs. Armored Saint was the opener this time around (like they were in 2022).

Heavy metal fans packed into the Hollywood Palladium, a venue that plenty of artists have taken down with thunderous sound. On this night, W.A.S.P. would be no different. Before they went on, Armored Saint was tasked with whipping up the crowd. Between a tight setlist, Armored Saint served up some classics, some new tunes, and even a surprise performance of “Mutiny on the World” dedicated to an Armored Saint family member. That performance was the first time since 1986 that they’ve busted out that track.

John Bush sounds better than he ever has with the band and the setlist they played really showed off to anyone in the room that didn’t know what Armored Saint was all about, that they’re here to kick ass. They really got the crowd going with pits opening up on the floor of heavy metal maniacs thundering into one another.

After they wrapped up with “Reign of Fire” off their album Symbol of Salvation, it was time for W.A.S.P.

W.A.S.P. Lights The Sky With Heavy Metal Thunder And Medleys

W.A.S.P. on stage at the Hollywood Palladium on the Album One Alive Tour 2024.

W.A.S.P. ripped through a setlist that looked like this.

  1. I Wanna Be Somebody
  2. L.O.V.E. Machine
  3. The Flame
  4. B.A.D.
  5. School Daze
  6. Hellion
  7. Sleeping (In The Fire)
  8. On Your Knees
  9. Tormentor
  10. The Torture Never Stops
    Encore:
  11. Inside the Electric Circus/I Don’t Need No Doctor/Scream Until You Like It
  12. The Real Me (The Who Cover)
  13. Forever Free/The Headless Children
  14. Wild Child
  15. Blind In Texas

They ripped through their first album with some highlights including “The Flame”, “On Your Knees”, and “The Torture Never Stops” whipping the crowd into a frenzy. After that, the stage changed a bit and we stepped into the Electric Circus. Guitarist Doug Blair absolutely shredded on lead guitar throughout the set giving fans some face-melting licks. The band sounded about as great as they did in 2022 with Lawless leading the charge. His vocals, while accentuated by some great backing vocals by Blair and bass guitarist Mike Duda, sounded really on point. The songs sound like they do on the record with the benefit of the guitars sounding far heavier live.

After the stage change, the encore included two medleys and some classic W.A.S.P. tracks. I’m still in awe of whenever they play “Wild Child” live. Both times I’ve seen it, the entire crowd knew the words. I’ve seen The Rolling Stones play “Start Me Up” and a lower percentage of the crowd knew all the words. Everyone was belting along with Blackie Lawless. It included a slower start that went back into the start of the song with a heavy guitar riff.

The highlight for me was “The Real Me” which is a magnificent cover that exudes punk and heavy metal influences. Lawless and Co. absolutely ripped through this track. Closing with “Blind In Texas”, the band and the crowd went all out for the conclusion.

The Verdict: W.A.S.P. Proves They Should Have Been Playing All Along

For fans in the US looking forward to this tour, sorry, it was the final show. However, for fans around the world in Europe and South America, the tour continues into 2025. So for people going to those shows, you’re in for a treat. Between a tight setlist full of heavy metal thunder and the band performing at a high level, W.A.S.P. really proved that their 2022 tour wasn’t an aberration. They’re more than capable of putting on one of the best heavy metal shows of the year. If you’re on the fence of heading out to these shows, just know that this might be the very last time that you get the chance to see a majority of the tracks from W.A.S.P.’s first album.

After energizing crowds across the United States on tour in 2024, W.A.S.P. has really hit their stride in this new “era” of the band on tour. The Album One Alive World Tour is one of the best heavy metal shows you can go to in 2024/2025.

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