Queensrÿche - The Origins Tour

When Queensrÿche announced last year that they would be stopping in Bochum as part of their Origins tour, I didn't hesitate for a second and got my ticket. The self-titled EP and, above all, The Warning are among my favourite releases of all time, as you could already read in my Top 100 special, or, forgive me for spoiling it, will read in a few months.

The fact that Night Demon were chosen as support act increased my excitement even more. Jarvis and Co. are without question one of the best live bands of their generation, and I have seen them many times. Even in the completely sold-out Matrix, their performance was a rousing triumph – it is rare for a support band to receive so many chants and storms of cheers. Also in 2025, the guys are extremely energetic and motivated from the first to the last second. Fortunately, the trio presented a setlist that was strong in every way, with appropriate focus on their latest album Outsider. The title track and ”Escape from Beyond“ thrilled me the most, along with classics like ”Dawn Rider“ and, of course, ”The Chalice“. I'm sure Night Demon had plenty to do at the merch stand!

What happened after that is hard to describe in words. Of course, Queensrÿche's setlist offered no surprises before the encore, but I still often stood there with my mouth open: what Todd La Torre delivered that evening was the best vocal performance I've ever heard live from a metal singer. To put this into perspective: the EP and The Warning are part of my musical DNA, and my admiration for these masterpieces is due in no small part to Geoff Tate. Even though I prefer the original lineups, I didn't miss the maestro for a moment – La Torre is quite simply the best thing that could have happened to Eddie Jackson and Michael Wilton. Hopefully there will be a live album with him one day, too.

Of course, the whole band was outstanding: the guitar duo Wilton/Mike Stone worked just as well as the mighty rhythm section Jackson/Casey Grillo. You can't play immortal anthems like ”Queen of the Reich“, ”Sanctuary“ or ”Take Hold of the Flame“ any better than this. Actually, the stage in Bochum was much too small for this demonstration of power.

Although I found it understandable and appealing that the encores started with a track from the latest album Digital Noise Alliance, ”Behind the Walls“ didn't really work for me. But that may just be because of the divine material that came before. After that, however, there were more goosebump moments with ”Walk in the Shadows“, ”Empire“ and ”Eyes of a Stranger“. Since Queensrÿche were the best metal band in the world between 1984 and 1990, you can only kneel in awe here. What an evening!

I am extremely curious to see how I will like Geoff Tate next week in Lünen after this world-class performance. Even if music is not a competition, one inevitably makes comparisons. As a fan, however, one can almost be grateful that, in view of the split a few years ago, one now has the opportunity to experience some of the best metal songs of all time twice within a few days.