Sacred Warrior: Live At Cornerstone Fest 2001 | The Memory Chest
(2025 – Retroactive Records)
They are one of the most beloved bands in the White Metal scene, and of course, they have an extensive history in Metal. They were missing a live album, and that legendary performance in 2001, as part of the well-known Cornerstone Fest, was the occasion for the band to reunite and record this album, powerful like few others, and the only known live work by Sacred Warrior. The original edition has long been out of print, and fortunately, Retroactive Records, as it has done with other material, has rescued this live album by Sacred Warrior from obscurity.
Of course, it’s a great opportunity to hear an incredible live album again. Power and vitality are what define the album, and that’s exactly what Sacred Warrior demonstrated in that performance. Up until that point, the band had released four albums and a compilation, and had not released anything new since 1991. This show demonstrated the vital force of a band like Sacred Warrior, who took the opportunity to review the most interesting parts of their discography. Thus, classics such as “Children Of The Light,” “Rebellion,” “Wicked Generation,” “The Heavens Are Calling,” among others, were present, along with three new songs that the band presented as a preview of what might come in the future.
We are not exaggerating when we say that this live album by Sacred Warrior is one of the finest gems in their discography. Here, the band sounds better than ever, and one of its greatest strengths is that it manages to sound much heavier than on their studio albums.
For those who don’t know, Sacred Warrior has always focused on traditional heavy metal, very much in the style of the 1980s, when they released their best material. With a lineup that included Rey Parra on vocals, Tony Velasquez on drums, Bruce Swift on guitars, Steve Watkins on bass, and Joe Petit on keyboards, Sacred Warrior gave a masterclass in how to sound good live, with enough power to make us bang our heads for a good while. We’re not kidding when we say that this album is one of the best things Sacred Warrior has ever done. Not only is there power, but also rawness; the band’s classics sound much rougher and harder than the studio versions. And Rey Parra, what can we say, confirms that he is one of the best vocalists on the scene and also one of the most charismatic.
As for the new songs included in this work, they may not shine as brightly as the older material. In the case of “Come On,” it shows that the times back in 2001 had taken their toll on Sacred Warrior’s style, attempting a modern vein that didn’t suit them very well. Meanwhile, “Day By Day” continues in a more introspective vein, but in keeping with the approach of those times. “Prince Of Peace” is a ballad with a Christian hymn feel, with some gospel and blues influences. A little strange and different for Sacred Warrior. These songs remain unreleased to date, having only been recorded on a 2001 demo but never released on an official album by the band.
The finale with “Temples Of Fire” brings back the Sacred Warrior we know, with a tremendous version of one of the band’s great classics, with truly devastating energy.
The sound achieved in this live recording seems to lack any studio manipulation. Thus, the rawness with which Sacred Warrior sounded at that show can be appreciated here in all its dimension. The background keyboard, which acts as a kind of cushion on which the band’s hard base rests, is just a tasteful detail that gives the band’s classics a majestic air. Beyond the excellence of the original recording, it should be noted that the material has been remastered by Steve Watkins, giving the album’s sound even greater clarity.
This new version of “Live At Cornerstone Fest 2001” has completely different artwork from the original. Firstly, because the cover is completely different, featuring a photograph by Rey Parra as the album cover. Inside the sleeve, we find the lyrics to the songs, including the three new tracks, as well as some slightly retouched photographs and other technical details about this release. It should also be noted that this new edition has its corresponding vinyl release, for lovers of the ever-beloved analog sound. It could be said that simplicity would be the word to define this reissue.
While we wait for something new from Sacred Warrior, or some sign that tells us what these guys are up to, this reissue takes us back not only to old times but also gives us a good opportunity to hear how one of the most legendary White Metal bands sounded in 2001.
Para saber más de esta edición, les recomendamos chequear en el sitio https://boonesoverstock.com/collections/retroactive-records. También les dejamos algo de este disco como para que juzguen por ustedes mismos, como así también las redes de la banda para estar atentos a todas sus novedades…
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