Exciter, High Spirits Highlight Defenders of the Old Festival III

Brooklyn might be known for its rather healthy underground metal scene that revolves around more cutting-edge, extreme sounds, but it’s heartening to know that some folks in the borough are flying the old school, “true” heavy metal flag high and proud. The Defenders of the Old Fest has been kicking around the Eastern seaboard for a few years, with its first two fests held in Baltimore. Defenders of the Old Fest III, however, journeys up to the Bell House in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn on Friday, March 13 and Saturday the 14th, 2015, and is set to offer as strong a classic heavy metal lineup as you could ever hope to come across.
Headlining Saturday are Canadian speed metal innovators Exciter, which will feature the original classic lineup of drummer/singer Dan Beehler, guitarist John Ricci, and bassist Alan Johnson performing in the US for the first time in 30 years. Better yet, the set will feature material from the band’s seminal early-‘80s albums Heavy Metal Maniac, Violence & Force, and Long Live the Loud. Meanwhile, Riot V, the band lovingly formed after of the death of Riot founder Mark Reale, will headline Friday. Other noteworthy support acts include NYC metal greats The Rods, San Francisco veterans Brocas Helm playing their first East Coast show, Connecticut speed metalers Liege Lord, as well as three of metal’s better contemporary bands, Chris Black’s great High Spirits, Boston’s Magic Circle, and Montreal’s Cauchemar.

Tickets are on sale now, with two-day passes going for $75 and Friday and Saturday tickets for $40. Visit Defenders of the Old III’s Facebook page for all the details. The full lineup is below.

Friday, March 13:

Riot V
Liege Lord
Destructor
Machine of War (featuring NME’s Brian Llapitan performing Unholy Death in its entirety)
Aggression (Canada) (first ever US show)
Magic Circle

Saturday, March 14:

Exciter
The Rods
Brocas Helm
High Spirits
October 31
Cauchemar
Natur

band01