Queensrÿche 'Take Hold Of The Flame' in Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA 2025: Show Review & Photos-The Metal Voice

The Metal Voice
Nov 24, 2025
2 min read

Queensrÿche and Accept are on a co-headlining US tour called the "Volume and Vengeance Tour" that runs from November 7 to December 20, 2025

ALL Photo by Scott Braun

Review at Kirby Center Wilkes, Greensburg, PA, USA Nov 19, 2025

By Jimmy Kay and Scott Braun

The pairing of Queensrÿche and Accept is a natural and powerful fit a true meeting of styles, with Queensrÿche’s progressive, metal blending seamlessly with Accept’s classic Teutonic heavy metal assault.

When Queensrÿche hit the stage, they came out firing on all cylinders. The band looked energized, focused, and completely locked in with one another. Their performance was tight, confident, and highly engaging from the very first note the kind of presence that shows they’re not just touring, but performing with purpose and passion.

One of the strongest elements of Queensrÿche’s 2025 set is that they don’t lean solely on nostalgia. While they pay plenty of respect to the classics, they also weave in newer material that keeps the show feeling fresh. The crowd responded just as strongly to the modern songs as they did to the older anthems, showing that the band’s recent work has truly connected with fans.

The setlist carried a powerful emphasis on Operation: Mindcrime, delivering essential tracks like “I Don’t Believe in Love,” “Eyes of a Stranger,” “Speak,” “Anarchy-X,” and “Breaking the Silence.” These songs remain some of the most iconic in Queensrÿche’s catalog, and their inclusion added both intensity and nostalgia to the night.

From the Todd La Torre era, the band showcased the strength of their more recent albums. Tracks like “Arrow of Time” from Condition Hüman and “In Extremis” and “Behind the Walls” from Digital Noise Alliance were standouts, proving that the newer material holds its own next to the classics. They also delivered major fan favorites such as “Empire,” “Jet City Woman,” “Take Hold of the Flame,” and “Neue Regel.” Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night — and a deep-cut highlight — was “London” from Rage for Order, a rare addition that thrilled longtime followers of the band.

The audience’s enthusiasm was undeniable. Fans were singing along loudly, not just to legacy staples but even to the newer tracks like “Behind the Walls,” showing just how deeply Queensrÿche’s modern catalog has resonated. The energy between the band and the crowd created a powerful feedback loop that carried throughout the entire performance.