Vader

Mar 12

Written By Luke

THE ORPHEUM | TAMPA, FL | 03.03.2024

The Forty Years' War

For my 16th birthday in 2003 my dad took me to buy cd’s for the Chevy Astro Van that would be the place of all things good, bad and debauched over the next two years. That day I picked up Litany. I can’t remember why or how. Maybe I saw someone wearing their shirt at a show or I just got lucky thinking the logo looked cool. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that album has been a constant part of my life since that day. Thanks Dad!

Photo by Luke James @lukejeffjames

It’s no surprise that after 40 years of Death Metal supremacy Vader sounds just as crushing today as they did the first time the opening riff for “Wings” pummeled my feeble mind. Cast in an icy blue light they took the stage and began the onslaught. Riff by riff they mowed down everyone in the room like we were willing participants for a firing squad. An unrelenting barrage of blast beats and speed picking. Crashing, ripping and booming with the relentlessness of an old tank lumbering down some war-torn city street.

A life dedicated to a singular creative vision is inspirational. Piotr Wiwczarek’s contribution to Extreme Music goes beyond any one song or album. His body of work will be discovered and studied as long as there are willing participants eager to enlist in the war against mediocrity.

I’m doing my part! What about you?