W.A.S.P. — https://waspnation.com — bring the “1984 To Headless” tour to The Ritz in Raleigh on September 25, 2026, revisiting the first record through The Headless Children across a North American run with additional dates in the U.K., Germany, and Scandinavia. Critics have always struggled to pin them down because the band moved fast: early shock-metal theatrics rooted in Sunset Strip sleaze, then a pivot into darker, more disciplined heavy metal with political and religious weight. Underneath the blood capsules and controversy was a band obsessed with structure — tight riff construction, melodic guitar leads, and Blackie Lawless’ theatrical but controlled vocal phrasing. Over four decades they’ve logged gold records, MTV-era notoriety, and a catalog that holds up beyond the stage props. Lawless has also been active in veterans’ and children’s charities, quietly, without press campaigns. The most recent studio release, Golgotha, leans into the band’s heavier, reflective side rather than nostalgia — listen here: https://open.spotify.com/search/Golgotha%20W.A.S.P.

KK’s Priest — https://kkpriest.com — support the tour with a lineup built around classic British heavy metal muscle and very little patience for trends. Formed by former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, the band works squarely in traditional heavy metal and speed metal — twin-guitar harmonies, galloping rhythms, and vocals that favor power over polish. Critics describe them as preservationists of the NWOBHM blueprint, but the material doesn’t feel archival; it’s direct and played with conviction. Since launching, they’ve toured the U.S., U.K., South America, and parts of Europe, building a catalog separate from Downing’s past while acknowledging it. Their debut Sermons of the Sinner charted internationally, and the follow-up The Sinner Rides Again sharpened the songwriting without softening the attack — listen here: https://open.spotify.com/search/The%20Sinner%20Rides%20Again%20KK%27s%20Priest.