OCTOBER 9th 2025
W.A.S.P.

Review & Photos By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Gallery: http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/wasp/

Not every band can afford to play two back-to-back sold out shows in Norway — but if it’s W.A.S.P., suddenly it seems entirely possible. This legendary band, adored by many, yet often criticized in recent years, always keeps fans guessing. Yet, just like two years ago, Oslo’s iconic Rockefeller club is packed once again.

The opening act tonight is Battle Born, a relatively new band from the UK. Formed in 2018, they’ve released only one full-length album so far — Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel — along with a few singles. I hadn’t listened to them before the show, wanting to keep it a surprise (for better or worse). Judging by their Instagram, with blue skinny jeans and white sneakers, they looked ready to play thrash metal classics — but that couldn’t be further from reality. Battle Born deliver hook-driven, synth-fueled power metal. You’d expect an epic keyboard player on stage, but surprisingly, there isn’t one.

They’re lively, energetic, and put on a solid performance. The stage features the band’s banner — a muscular bear that clearly never skips his protein shake and an arm day. The sound isn’t perfect throughout, but the crowd enjoys it, and it makes for a great warm-up as the venue fills up.

This pair of W.A.S.P. concerts at Rockefeller is part of the “Album One Alive” tour, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band’s iconic debut. That record became a cornerstone of the 1980s metal scene and is still regarded as one of the greatest metal debuts of all time. It features classics like I Wanna Be Somebody, L.O.V.E. Machine, and Sleeping (In the Fire) — and tonight’s setlist includes the album in its entirety.

The show begins fashionably late, about 20 minutes behind schedule. Smoke fills the stage, designed like an old-time carnival, with “Elvis” — the steel skeleton-shaped mic stand — gleaming in red light at the center. The stage setup mirrors that of two years ago, but the energy level this time is on another level. From the opening notes of I Wanna Be Somebody, it’s clear that W.A.S.P. have truly stepped up their game.

It’s no secret that fans have criticized Blackie Lawless’s vocals in recent years — and to be fair, he hasn’t always been at his best. But tonight is different. He sounds strong, confident, and fully engaged. The band’s stage movements also feel more polished and intentional, making the whole performance tighter and more dynamic. Everyone loves a great comeback, and this one certainly qualifies.

After the main set, the encore brings more fan favorites — Wild Child, Forever Free, Blind in Texas, and a few others. All in all, it’s a triumphant night for W.A.S.P., proving that it’s far too soon to relegate this band to the past. Hoping to see them live again soon — perhaps with a new show and more surprises in store.