This was the fourth date of the spanish tour and things kicked off with SAVATAGE. Hitting the stage at 21:35 pm it was obvious that I wasn't the only one that was keen to see this band in action. The performance was really good and the band was very tight. Tons of stage presence, excellent songs, and good playing and singing made for an excellent show. Jon Oliva (vocals/keyboards), Chris Caffery (guitar), Jeff Plate (drums) and Johnny Lee Middleton (bass) were joined by newcomers Damond Jiniya (vocals) and Jack Frost (guitar, ex-Metalium, Seven Witches) recently... and they did a good job. Even though they were just support, they gave it their all in the 55 minutes they had on stage. The set was virtually a greatest hits set, which includes both old and new songs: "City Beneath The Surface", "Sirens", "Commissar", "The Wake Of Magellan", "Edge Of Thorns", "Hall Of The Mountain King"... "Commissar" was the only song from the new album and is an immediate crowd pleaser. After this song, Jon Oliva started a short improvisation on his keyboard as intro for "Edge Of Thorns". This really is one hell of song live. When Jon played the first tunes of "Gutter Ballet" I felt like I was in heaven After "Gutter Ballet" some people were yelling "Believe" and "Hall Of The Mountain King". Then the guys launched into "Chance". Jon and Damond both did the vocals and after this tune, the band said goodbye and left. They were called back and they played the amazing "Hall Of The Mountain King" (killer one!), a nice way to end a great show. I truly admire their technical ability, and how they make everything seem easy. Their energy on stage is infectious. Each member looks like they thoroughly enjoy themselves on the stage, all smiles and joking! Damond’s impeccable voice was impressive and he sang in an aggressive style. I liked him (and is entirely different on stage than when you’re just hanging around talking to him). Chris Caffery... man, this guy is fantastic!!!! Jon is a great frontman, joking around with bandmembers and audience. He's among the funniest guys you will ever meet. Overall, this was an awesome perfomance that ended too soon. I had high expectations of their perfomance, and it was even better than what I expected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

           

When JUDAS PRIEST finally grace the stage at 23:00, they opened the set with "Metal Gods". All the guys but "Ripper" Owens came out. You could hear him but you couldn't see him. After a while he appeared on stage and we saw him wearing a horrible silver coat (Arrrrrgh!). "Metal Gods" was followed by "Heading Out To The Highway". Cool to hear this song again since the "Turbo" tour. The band stuck to the classics, with only a couple of tunes from new album "Demolition" ("One On One" and "Machine Man") and a couple from "Jugulator" ("Blood Stained" and "Burn In Hell"). There was a noticeable drop in enthusiasm when they presented their new songs, but when the classics come, the crowd roar with deligh. "What's my name?" Ripper said and then they started to play "The Ripper" (of course), followed by "Diamonds And Rust" (it was great to hear the acoustic version of this song), "Green Manalishi" & "Breaking The Law". The crowd want more and more they get: "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and "Painkiller". Ripper appeared on a bike, Halford-style, just before "Painkiller". WOW, this is one hell of song live!! It has some impressive drumming and singing. After the mandatory shouting for more, the encores began. With four encores including "The Hellion (for this intro a tape was used) / Electric Eye", "United" & "Living After Midnight" and 'rounding off the 1 hour 50 minute set with everyone's favourite "Hell Bent For Leather". The sound was good and their perfomance was flawless. No solos, no pyro effects. Good choice of the songs played (they performed all of my favorites except for "The Sentinel" and "Hell Patrol"). My personal favourite songs were "A Touch Of Evil", the beautiful "Diamonds And Rust", "Breaking The Law" and "Painkiller".

   

They may have been around for over 30 years, but guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing still play like men possesed and jump around the stage like they were still 20 years old. Tipton/Downing is a tandem to watch. Bassist Ian Hill, like always, didn't move from his spot. Scott Travis played the drums very well, throwing one of his sticks in the air and catching it again to continue his playing. And Mr. Owens is a pretty fine frontman and pulled it off with style and enthusiasm. I think his performance was better than on the Jugulator-tour (sorry dudes, but Owens sang some of the classics even better than Rob). He screamed out some shouts that blew us away...wooo hooo...and, by the way, he changed his stage outfit several times. It was a great chance to see them live here. Yeah, the Priest is back!! Keep defending the faith! -Review & photos by Marina-

SAVATAGE SET-LIST

City Beneath The Surface, Strange Wings, Sirens, Of Rage And War, Commissar, Edge Of Thorns, Wake Of Magellan, Dead Winter Dead, Gutter Ballet, Chance & Hall Of The Mountain King.

JUDAS PRIEST SET-LIST

Metal Gods, Heading Out..., A Touch Of Evil, Blood Stained, Victim Of Changes, One On One, The Ripper, Diamonds And Rust, Green Manalishi, Burn In Hell, Machine Man, Breaking The Law, You've Got Another..., Painkiller, The Hellion/Electric Eye, United, Living After Midnight & Hell Bent For Leather.

MORE PICS...

Jon Oliva & me	Chris Caffery & me	Damond Jiniya & me

Glenn Tipton & me	Ripper & me	Ian, Scott & me