Not much in life is guaranteed, but you can always count on Richmond, Virginia’s, scumdogs of the universe, GWAR to do an October/November fall tour every year to deliver their over-the-top bloody massacre on stage. Here in 2025, the band is headlining their 40th anniversary with the Return of Gor Gor tour. GWAR always has the coolest opening bands, and this year there is Blood Vulture, Dwarves, and, in direct support, Helmet. On Thursday night, October 23, the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, was covered up in plastic to protect all the important stage items from the spray of blood and space-jizz that GWAR would unleash.
Once again, Southern California traffic did not allow me to witness Blood Vultures or Dwarves. Still, the word in the venue was that both bands slayed, especially Dwarves, who delivered an angst-driven, sexually charged set of mid-80s punk rock led by original vocalist Blag Dahlia and “Rex Everything” (Nick Oliveri from Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age).
Led by founder and vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet played a truly incredible 60-minute set that spanned the band’s entire 35-year career. Helmet is one of the most underrated bands out there, but on this night, they quickly reminded Anaheim who the kings of alternative/groove metal are. Often described as a “thinking man’s metal band”, Helmet opened the show with a banger – “Wilma’s Rainbow”, then into “I Know”, both from 1994’s Betty album.
Hamilton was musically focused, with few words to say, letting the music do the talking. The crowd got a bit rowdier for the song “Unsung,” and the band just played some serious, groovy, down-tuned metal. The lineup has remained intact since 2010 with Kyle Stevenson on drums, Dan Beeman on guitar, and Dave Case on bass – this band is TIGHT!
The set concluded with “Just Another Victim”, a collaboration with House of Pain from 1993 for the Judgment Night soundtrack, and ended with the powerful “In the Meantime”. Again, GWAR always takes out spectacular bands as openers, and this year, having Helmet as direct support was a GREAT choice.
Helmet
Photo Credit: Chris Loomis
GWAR took the stage at 9:50 pm with one of their cohorts setting the plot, and the band, led by vocalist Blöthar the Berserker, Balsac the Jaws of Death, and Grodius Maximus on guitars, Beefcake the Mighty on bass, and Jizmak da Gusha on drums, were off to slay the world. The show opened with “The Great Circus Train Disaster” off their July 2025 EP The Return of Gor Gor, and it did not take long before a limb was cut off and blood was spraying everywhere. It’s a ritual for fans, especially right up in front, to wear white shirts in hopes of leaving with it being drenched in fluids, and the band is glad to make that happen.
While GWAR does have some killer songs and all are very talented musicians, the real draw live is the theatrics. In addition to the band, the night included Sawborg Destructo, Bonesnapper, and, of course, the return of the band’s pet Tyrannosaurus, Gor Gor, amongst others. A giant Tyrannosaurus egg was cracked open, and a baby Gor Gor attacked once it escaped. Several other characters were ripped apart, and Gor Gor beheaded a poor soul. All this was happening while gallons of blood were sprayed over the crowd, who were loving every minute of the bloody baptism.
Back to the music, many GWAR classics were played, such as “Saddam a Go-Go”, “Hail, Genocide!”, “Bring Back the Bomb”, and, of course, the set ended with “Sick of You”. GWAR successfully destroyed another venue leaving everyone looking like they just escaped a murder scene. The Return of Gor Gor Tour 2025 runs through November 22, ending in Norfolk, VA.
GWAR
Photo Credit: Chris Loomis
