Classic melodic, progressive hard rock/metal band Sacred Warrior have checked in with the following announcement:
“It is with great joy, humility, anticipation, and relief that we are proud to announce the release of our newest single, ‘Slave’. It is the first new music from Sacred Warrior in a long time, and features a VERY special collaboration between Eli Prinsen and former lead singer Rey Parra in dueling, soaring vocal duet!! This song is our contribution to a fundraising effort for Naomi’s House in Chicago, IL… a residential shelter for female victims of sexual exploitation. The story of this song is told more fully below, but it has been a labor of conviction and love for the last year. Please share with as many people as you can, and visit the fundraising page to learn how you can help… we want this epic music to convict, inspire, and compel you to want to join us.”
“The MP3 of ‘Slave’ is available for download at their fundraiser page, free of charge, and it is our gift to you and to Naomi’s House. We ask only that you not merely enjoy the music as a listener, but also join with us doing a small part to help in this gigantic battle against evil. You prayers, and your donations, are precious.”
“One day last year, our guitarist Bruce Swift heard a radio interview of a woman who was personally involved in rescuing children caught in sex slavery and exploitation in Asia. One story about a young boy was particularly heart-wrenching, as she had trailed him and watched him be passed around by his owner to dozens of men, for all hours of the days and night, every day of the week. Eventually that little boy was rescued, but there are millions more victims who suffer day and night in confinement, coercion, emotional and physical abuse, and unbelievable degradation as they are bought and sold like cattle and made to do filthy, unspeakable acts by their exploiters.”
“We had to do something. This gave birth to the ideas and music for “Slave”–an evocative, epic metal anthem that we hope will seize your heart, dance across the theater of your mind, and compel you to partner with us.”
“We were overwhelmed by the problem. But, we knew that we could do something to help those in our own back yard who are picking up these broken, beautiful lives and helping them heal from their past and prepare for a new future. Through God’s amazing providence, we were put into contact with Naomi’s House, a ministry of Chicago’s Moody Church. Naomi’s House will be a residence in the suburbs of Chicago where female victims of sexual trafficking and exploitation can find shelter, relief, safety, peace, and hope for a future no longer destroyed by their past. Their mission statement is “To provide lifelong hope and healing through long-term, residential comprehensive care for women who have suffered sexual exploitation.” You can read more about the amazing vision of Naomi’s House at their website here: https://www.naomishouse.org. Renovations on a purchased house and property are almost complete, and its first residents will hopefully arrive by late summer! Aside from finishing expenses for the multi-unit residence, hiring of staff and operating expenses all contribute to a large financial need for the upcoming year. This is why we need your help.”
“So, we ask you to join us in doing our small part amid the storm of this worldwide holocaust of broken lives. We have created “Slave” for you to download and listen to free of charge, but we ask you to not be satisfied with merely hearing about the problem and enjoying the song without also taking action. Will you help us, as we help those right here in our neighborhoods?”
The band was formed out of a general market metal band known as Nomad, which formed in 1985. Subsequent to the conversion of guitarist Bruce Swift to Christianity, he lead fellow band members Tony Velasquez and Rey Parra. He also led Rick Macias, who had been a bouncer at a nightclub. Steve Watkins joined the band as bassist in 1988 and Sacred Warrior was formed. Rick Macias left the band in 1989 and was replaced by John Johnson for the 1989 – 1990 tour. John left the band in 1990. Joe Petit (keyboards) joined the band in 1991. Sacred Warrior broke up in 1994 and then reformed in 2000 to do a Cornerstone Reunion Show. Rey moved to Florida and the rest of the guys stayed in Chicago making it difficult to continue writing music.
Sacred Warrior re-formed in 2008. In 2012 the band announced Eli Prinsen (The Sacrificed/Sealed Fate) as their new vocalist. Their latest album “Waiting In Darkness” has been released in July 2013. “Waiting In Darkness” is their first studio album in 22 years.
Our album review of “Waiting In Darkness” can be found here.
Lyric video for: ‘Slave’