(Live Review) LEGIONS OF METAL FESTIVAL - Night One Chicago, IL (5/2/25)
- Mark McQueen
- 8 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Good day friends, fans, and followers. It is your favorite reviewing duo, the Beard & Little Johnny, and today we look at part one of our second national metal festival of 2025 ... the two stage, two night, twenty-three band creation known as Chicago’s Legions of Metal.
Legions of Metal arose (in 2017) from the ashes of the Ragnarök Metal Apocalypse festival that had run from 2012-16. Now, for the last eight years, promoter Bob Byrne has been bringing classic old acts, along with up-and-coming new ones, from all genres of the metal music industry to south side Chicago venue Reggie’s Rockhouse.
Although Legions of Metal was initially linked to the aforementioned Ragnarök one, in under a decade, Byrne has made Legions of Metal the Second City's most “must see” metal festival for smaller non-arena sized acts. The Beard has been coming to this for the last three years and it has rapidly moved up the list of my favorites.
Arriving early for Friday’s day one, as Little Johnny and I stood in line awaiting doors opening (along with a hundred or so other early attendees), conversations were about who people had seen and were going to see. Where they had been and where they were going to go. Festival entry lines are the metal internet, and no matter how many shows I have seen since I began this reviewing gig, (which is now approaching 900 in five years), I “still” learn something new in every single line I stand in.
Promoter Bob Byrne was out in front of Reggie’s, walking the line and greeting or fist bumping with fans showing that he is not a man who hides in an office somewhere and counts the take, but is instead a true supporter of metal music just like the rest of us.
Also on hand, Mad with Power festival promoter Ty Christian, was handing out cards for his own June festival that features power metal acts from across the world performing at an Arcade venue in Madison WI. Although I had gone to this festival as well three years in a row, and have met Ty Christian several times, there was not a flicker of recognition as he walked by and handed me a card. (Ed: I'm sure he would have recognized Johnny if he had seen him.)
Obviously, promoters meet thousands of people, and no one remembers everyone. Plus, although generally giving positive reviews, I had occasionally critiqued Christian’s own band The Lords of the Trident. Still, I assume The Beard has just never made any lasting impact on Mr. Christian.
Bob Byrne on the other hand knew me by name and acknowledged my presence with a fist bump, (Bob doesn’t shake hands), a smile, and a “thanks for coming out Beard.” Selfishly, that earned his festival some early points. The Beard does possess a fair amount of vanity after all. (Ed: But not a lot of hair.)
Getting inside was a smooth process that just required showing an ID for an alcohol wristband, & a ticket to acquire the appropriate colored festival wristband. There were one day, two-day, and VIP levels. Still smarting from the poor treatment I received in March at the hands of the Hells Heroes festival (as such regarded their VIP level tickets and alleged benefits), I opted for the more modestly priced two-day festival pass here. This meant no free food, no special room to hang out in and less direct access to the bands, although most did make appearances at their merchandise tables, so I was cool with the passes I got.
Once we had entered, we took a quick perusal of the merch areas. The bigger bands had their material right inside the door on the way to the main room. The smaller bands had a hallway that connected the main room Rockhouse venue to the smaller rooms Music Joint stage. It was narrow and tight, but bands and fans made it work and even at its most crowded point, people were usually polite and kept a pathway clear.
After that it was a stop by the bar for some “Chicago” priced beers. Chicago, being code for “pricey” but I suppose you drink less that way. Little Johnny made his way to the stage front area, and I mounted the stairs to the second floor where I luckily found one of the eight chairs up there unoccupied and immediately set up camp and awaited the first band of the festival.
Legions of Metal Festival 2025
SACRED LEATHER:
Sacred Leather was a five-piece trad metal band that reminded me of an 80’s throwback. Think garage version of Iron Maiden.
As their name alluded to, everyone was clad in leather. Vocals were semi legible with high screams but not the dog whistle type. This did seem to me the type of band I would have seen back in high school. That thought was actually kind of comforting and helped their grade. Back in the Beard's school days, these guys would have probably opened for somebody like Grim Reaper.
While it was immediately noticeable that Sacred Leather had some serious sustain/delay thing going in the mix, (many of singer Dee Wrathchild's screams lingered several seconds after the microphone was gone from his mouth.) Still, this was a fine opening band to kick things off, although their one slower song fell flat ... and gauging audience responses I wasn’t alone in that thought.
Although I certainly didn’t feel cheated, I also wasn’t knocked out either. 75/100
CASTLE
Castle has always been the one-two punch of Elizabeth Blackwell on bass/vocals and Matt Davis on guitars as they do their doom-laden occult rock thing. I hav seen Castle four times since 2015 and can say they always give maximum effort on stage.
Although I hadn’t watched them in about five years and both members had aged somewhat, especially Davis, Castle music is simply good, and although I do not own “Evil Remains” (their newest release), I enjoyed several numbers from the four CDs I do have.
As usual, Castle gave a great effort and again the only thing keeping them ranked just under “crack a cold one” status was that I wanted Blackwell’s vocals to have more clarity. Castle still earned a great 86/100.
CARDINALS FOLLY
This Finnish act was unknown to me. A three-piece band with a more traditional doom sound.
Although not ultra slow, Cardinals Folly had a Saint Vitus vocal tone reminiscent of the Scott Reager’s era minus the epic-ness that he brought to the early Saint Vitus albums.
This was a solid band, but not one that was going to make me run to the merch table. 79/100
EAGLEWING
It was time to leave the balcony, and the comfort of my chair, to head over to Reggie’s small room, (dubbed the Music Joint) for this newer Denver band.
Eaglewing were a five-piece traditional metal group with a good singer. They had a somewhat NWOBHM style thing going on. Good song structure and worth coming over for the set. Ross Murphy, the singer of Eaglewing, with the hair, shirtless jean vest and body size did elicit a crowd member to yell out, “Bon Scott you’re alive!” That was pretty funny.
Another solid act and an 85/100. So far that has been the story of day one. No strike outs, but no home runs yet. It's a Legion of slap singles.
SONJA
The small room is called that for a reason, and when it fills up, I get claustrophobic, so the Beard called an audible and headed back to the main room for Sonja. While I once again apologize to Mythcarver, (I will see you guys at some point), it was a good call.
Sonja was more hard rock than heavy metal. A nice three-piece act that really rocked out their set. I remember seeing them once before and not being that impressed, but singer/guitarist Melissa Moore has improved in both areas. My only criticism was she still dresses like she is going to the office not the stage. I get it, the stage IS her office, but it is distracting. It was like I was watching the VP of Marketing also fronting a rock band.
That complaint aside, this was a good set. For their last number they busted out Manowar’s “Bridge of Death” which I totally did not expect. Moore's guitar emulation of Ross the Boss was about 7/10 which impressed me. Her vocal emulation of Eric Adams, however, was about 3/10, which did not. Still, it WAS nice hearing a song I hadn’t thought about in thirty-five years. 80/100. (Ed: What? You didn't listen/watch my MANOWAR Discography review a couple of weeks back?!)
SEVEN SPIRES
Boston’s symphonic metal act was one I had surprisingly never seen before, so I was intrigued as to what I was going to get since I was still looking for one homerun today.
Singer Adrienne Cowan mixed clean symphonic artistry with death growling from the Pit as the remaining three musicians thundered through something that was indeed goth/synth/death metal. There was a lot going on with each of their songs and it gave the feeling of a theatrical presentation that was larger and fuller than the stage to which it was confined. In a word, these songs were great. Merch table here I come. Clearly the Beard needs a shirt, and “Finally” we are cracking a cold one for Seven Spires.
Cowan clearly had both a demon and an angel inside her body and they each came out when she sang, sometimes entwining like ancient lovers, and sometimes fighting for dominance like eternal enemies locked in a struggle of the eons. This was fascinating to both watch and listen to and Cowan is my favorite vocalist so far in 2025.
I likewise must acknowledge the excellence on guitar from Jack Kosta. Tremendous energy and technique. This set was amazing and a cap tip and Beard bow to promoter Bob Byrne for bringing this act here. Truly Seven Spires was my number one act of Friday night. 95/100
TOXIC HOLOCAUST
Well, the Beard had his band of today and now it was time for Little Johnny to go insane as Toxic Holocaust attempted to destroys Reggie’s.
Another three-piece act, which seemed the theme tonight, focused on 80’s era thrash and speed metal, Toxic Holocaust are the unleashed storm of the fest. The main floor made a large area for a Pit but only about 20-30 people were really circling every song, while most stayed on the outside of it or only jumped in now and then.
This was a fun set but not like the insanity they laid down here back in 2023. Plus, for me, nobody was going to follow Seven Spires tonight, not even a band like Toxic Holocaust. Still, they are a good band, and it was a good set. 85/100.
That wrapped up day/night one and fortunately Little Johnny was virtually asleep on his little feet after that set, and long day, so once we got to the car it was snore-city dreamland for America’s cap wearing, IPA swilling mosh king, and the Beard enjoyed a peaceful drive home to reflect on night one.
No real misses today. All bands were on the stage on time. (Take a lesson Milwaukee Metalfest!!) The crowds were friendly. All but the most major bands hung out near their merchandise areas after their sets. Reggie’s staff were efficient, professional, and even more personable than usual. Lighting was much better (with more front lights that let us see the bands more clearly.) Sound, (especially compared to Hells Heroes), was surprisingly good for Reggie’s, and with Seven Spires giving a potential top ten set for this year, the Beard is declaring night one of Legions of Metal a true horns up success.
I know part one was long, but you want to take all the time needed when something deserves it and Legions of Metal night one did. Continue to follow the Beard on Facebook, TikTok, Mighty Decibel and anywhere else I pop up. Support Little Johnny and buy him an IPA when you see him.
Until we drop part II, this has been the Beard saying, “Live Life” “Stay Heavy,” and “Horns Up.”