Their elaborate guitar solos and decidedly glam stage swagger might sound and look like the stuff of 1985, but McAllen's Warryor is only two years old.
The members of the indie metal band might be the only gigging rockers in the Rio Grande Valley that belong on a label known for re-releasing underground 80s metal CDs.
The band recently signed to Retrospect Records, the Las Vegas label dedicated to "preserving 80s-style Hard Rock and Metal," according to its Web site. The label might specialize in throwback rock, but its helping Warryor carve out a future in the modern music scene. The band will head west Jan.12 for a 10-day mini-tour with other current Retrospect acts. Warryor will hit up venues in Utah and Nevada, including a stop in Retrospect's hometown, Las Vegas.
The chance to play outside of South Texas, said guitarist "Razor" Dave Benitez, is exactly why the three-piece band — including Valley native Ed Guzman and Benitez's brother Chris Daniel on vocals and bass — signed with Retrospect.
"Not to knock the local scene, but people respond to original music a lot more outside the Valley," Benitez said. "It makes sense for us to go where people want to hear original music."
The Las Vegas music scene isn't exactly known for breaking new original acts, but the band found some new fans at a recent show at Vegas' Cheyenne Saloon.
"Most bands in Vegas make money playing other people's music, but we played our original songs," he said. "There was a good crowd and we were told it was one of the biggest crowds for our kind of music they've seen in a while."
Even if the songs are original, it's not hard to wonder why Warryor's retro sound and image would be a hit with a Vegas crowd. Nostalgia is a big sell in Sin City, and Celine Dion and Wayne Newton aren't the only ones who are cashing in on that fact. Sill, Benitez said his band's music can appeal to rockers of all ages.
"There are a lot of people out there who like the 80s style metal, the hard rock we do," Benitez said. "Our audience has the biggest range — from kids to adults. It's not just one crowd that likes us like the million indie or emo bands all over. We appeal to more people,
and we even give the music our own twist."
Warryor will pay a show in Laredo on Saturday before heading west to Utah. The band returns to the Valley on Jan. 25 for a show at Hurricane's in Brownsville. For Warryor's complete show schedule, visit www.myspace.com/officialwarryorsite.
