Never in a million years did I ever expect to capture an Armored Saint concert. The last time they performed in El Paso was 1985; they had only been a band for a few years at that point. But this week, they hit the stage at the Rockhouse with three local bands and truly put on a show that made up for their 40-year absence. They are on the “40th Anniversary Delirious Nomad Tour,” the third album they released in 1985. Joining them on this night were local bands Invader, Ojo Malo, and Hobo.
Invader is a newer band compared to the others, but a band that can hold their own on stage. I have written about them in the past, so I will not bore you with the details. They have recently taken on a new guitarist. I have seen him perform with them the last few times, and he is a good fit. This three-piece band came to the show prepared to rock the stage. Being the first band up is going to be hard—it’s usually early in the night, people are just showing up—but I noticed many people that came in after paying walked over to the stage barrier and listened, bopped their heads, horns up for these guys. They are a solid opening band. I am looking forward to the day when they are a headliner.
To learn more about Invader, you can go to these links:
Ojo Malo, a killer sludge metal band that is a crowd favorite, are as crazy on stage as they are some of the nicest guys you will ever meet. When Skin Basher, Throat Basher, Axe Basher, and Thunder Basher hit the stage, they bring a whole new world to life with endless energy and amazing, hammering beats. They create an atmosphere of let’s party all night long—and party so hard we don’t remember what happened the next day.They’re coming out next month with a new CD, and we’re all waiting to see what new and fresh sounds they have to offer.
To keep updated on their progress and to see where they are performing next, check out these links:
Jo-Hobo Witness (Hobo) is a side project of Geo Gomez from the legendary band Pissing Razors and the late Danny Contreras, who passed away in 2016. But now, Hobo is back—writing new music and creating new memories. They’ve recreated an old-school rock sound, and they have more energy than ever. During the show, they performed some old songs and some new work. When they were done, the crowd wouldn’t let them stop—but they did promise they’d be back, and told everyone to keep an eye out for their next performance. This is only the second time I’ve heard them perform, but I think we should all consider following them and see what the future brings.
Here are their links to follow:
Armored Saint, from Los Angeles, was formed in 1982. In a short time, they became one of the leading heavy metal bands in the L.A. music scene. In the ’80s, they toured with bands like Metallica, W.A.S.P., Aerosmith, and King Diamond. For the most part, the original members are still performing with the band. They’ve taken a few breaks over the years, but they always come back together.
Armored Saint has released 13 albums, with the latest being in 2021. They opened their performance to a full house with “March of the Saint” off their March of the Saints album released 1984, followed by “End of the Attention Span,” released 2020 off their Punching the Sky album, and “The Pillar,” off their Revelation album, released in 2000. They performed a few songs from the Delirious Nomad album released in 1985. They wrapped up their performance to a screaming crowd that sang along with “Mad House.” They also announced that by the spring of 2026, they will be releasing their next album featuring all new material.
I had heard of Armored Saint and had listened to their songs in the past, but it was an honor to capture this show and be part of the 40th anniversary tour celebrating the release of their 1985 album, Delirious Nomad. Here are a few links to their website and social media:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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