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Revolution Metal Fest 2004
Mexico City 20th of November 2004

Bands:  Exousia - Mortification - Narnia - Saviour Machine



Revolution Metal Fest started on Friday the 19th of Nov with a huge Press Conference at the beautiful Hotel the bands were staying at compliments of the Mexican promoters.

The main topic of discusion initially was Stryper's cancellation of The Fest. After we all vented our frustrations about that it was down to the real deal. What was happening with the Real Jesus Metal bands that had come & what could Mexico expect. All the bands were excited to be representing The Gospel of Jesus Christ in Mexico. Topics such as Heavy Metal & the Church & politics in The Western World were discussed but already there was a sense of unity amongst the bands and a feeling that God would move powerfully at The Fest.

The arena almost cancelled with the absense of Stryper but Rainer Mittelstaedt (Narnia & Saviour Machine manager) & myself were called in to pursue the arena manager that this was a Fest for 5 bands, not just Stryper plus supports. We had travelled 30 hours & the sweds 15 and we knew the people would come.  It was hard to stay peaceful in the midst of greed.

As it happens 3000 people came in to see the Fest & only approximatly 1500 wanted their money back or decided not to pay on the day. The Fest was thus so complete as it happened.

Exousia opened the day blistering through a set of tight melodic Unblack Metal style. With long black hair spinning in circles Exousia are a world class Extreme Metal act. Marco (Vocalist) & Miguel (Guitarist) presented some spoken word in Spanish that set the mood for an awesome move of God.

We (Mortification) followed with our street level Extreme Metal Power Trio style presentation. This was the first time we had played through walls of Amps. 800 Watts of Bass Amps through 32 speakers & 400 watts of Marshall Amps also through 32 speakers. Brutal! Every Metalheads dream. We did songs from all Mortification eras and the spoken word about the Disciples who followed Jesus and bringing up our children in the ways of God was given as a message directly to my heart. I wept with people after the show who had known no human Father. I was able to point them to their Heavenly Father.

Narnia's set was the finest Power Metal set, musically that I have ever witnessed, and the presence of God was tangible in the hall. Narnia Vocalist Christian had expressed to me that he was not going to have any spoken word interpreted as I had but had been praying that The Holy Spirit would simply fall upon the crowd. As Narnia played the songs Christian fell to his knees drawing the presense of God into the hall. It was so strong I was in tears. I have never felt the presense of The Holy Spirit so strongly at a Christian event. God was moving powerfully throughout the Narnia set.

Savior Machine played last & Eric Clayton's theatrical presentation of the life of Jesus & The Book of Revelation was so gripping and captivating. Symbolically dipping the white mask in The Blood of Jesus & pouring the Blood of Jesus on The Amerrican flag was a whole new realm of Evangelistic presentation. Awe Inspiring stuff! Eric finished the set with 4 songs from the first 2 albums and walked amongst the crowd singing words of Repentance , Praise & Worship. The crowd moved with him in united voice to God. A most incredible finale to an amazing day.

I cannot express how blessed I feel to have been part of such an event. The 3000 people that came into the Fest will be the people that will change Mexico forever. There is no way that anyone could have left that place without being touched & changed. It was like an upper room experience which brought together 4 bands that most of "the church" would see as playing devil music. This Fest was not about making money it was about the Glory of God. No band could possibly have followed what was so complete when Saviour Machine left the stage.

I cannot relay to you the reader just how annointed this Fest was & there were no alter calls or public praying. Just the move of God on an audience I have been believing for, for 20 years. To God be The Glory, Great things HE has done!

Be Blessed

Steve Rowe (Mortification)