It has been six long years since Slayer hung up their instruments and called it a day. Bringing their monumental career to a close on November 30th at The Forum in L.A. With the image of guitarist Kerry King’s chains left on the stage after the gig remaining etched in the minds of metal fans worldwide long thereafter.
Side projects apart. Since then, the fearsome foursome has only re-emerged for a handful of festival performances. All of which have been overseas. Leaving UK audiences yearning for a chance to catch a glimpse of the mythical thrash metal cryptids in their natural habitat. On stage, with a wall of Marshalls behind them.
However, they have finally returned! Bringing a line-up with them to Blackweir Field in Cardiff tonight that’s reminiscent of the early 00’s Unholy Alliance tours. Featuring back-up from their old tour mates Hatebreed and Mastodon. With a little extra added support from fellow Big 4 alumni, Anthrax. All topped off by Amon Amarth, solidly rounding out the bill with their Viking inspired blend of melodic death metal and Norse mythology.
Tucked away just down the road from Principality Stadium. Blackweir Field seems entirely too tranquil for a line-up of this magnitude. The peace and quiet is quickly shattered however when Hatebreed (8) take to the stage.
Barrelling out of the gates with I Will Be Heard. Jamey Jasta and co. have no time to waste here either. With just under thirty minutes allotted to them, their backs are quite literally against the wall today. They seem to relish the challenge though. Ploughing through a hit list that includes classics like To the Threshold and Destroy Everything like a band possessed. Jasta from ear to ear as their now trademark balls of death bounce around across the sea of circle pits in front of them. All credit where it’s due, they manage to smash their way through six tracks before it’s time to bring their set home with Driven by Suffering. We only wish they’d had more time to play with!
After a changeover so fast you’d be forgiven for thinking there was a Formula 1 pit crew backstage. It’s prog-metal giants Mastodon’s (9) turn to take the spotlight. Who sound absolutely immense as they start things off with Crystal Skull. Troy Sanders bass grinding away in the back of the mix. Filling out the low frequencies perfectly under Bill Kelliher and new addition, Nick Johnstons fretboard wizardry.
Much as with Hatebreed, their set feels incredibly short lived. They’ve chosen their setlist wisely though. Avoiding their longer epics in favour of hard-hitting fan favourites like Black Tongue, Megalodon and Blood and Thunder. Anyone worried about the void left behind by Brent Hinds departure need not be concerned either. As while the lack of his presence on stage was notable. Troy, Bill and Brann did a more than admirable job splitting his vocal duties. Which, coupled with Johnstons natural ability on guitar didn’t leave Mastodon lacking anywhere. If anything, they sounded and looked every bit as good as they ever have. Reinvigorated even. We aren’t sure if this is the line-up they’ll be taking into the studio for their forthcoming album. If it is though, we’re here for it!
Another lightning-fast changeover later and it’s time for thrash metal stalwarts, Anthrax (8). While it seems odd for a band with such a legacy to be sitting anywhere but the sub-headline slot. Anthrax don’t seem bothered in the slightest. Scott Ian still stomps his way around the stage like a toddler ramped up on too much Sunny D that’s stumbled into his dad’s Doc Martens. With the guitarist grinning maniacally as the band’s opening track Caught in a Mosh takes hold of the crowd.
There really isn’t much time to take in their performance though. As with every other support band on today’s bill, their slot borders on being criminally short. They only manage four full tracks, two of which are technically covers. Although we’d argue by this point Got the Time is every bit as much Anthrax’s as it ever was Joe Jacksons… The New York home team still manage to wring every last drop of sweat from the audience though. Especially during their final song, Indians. Which has everyone bellowing along with Joey Belladonna. Their horns raised to the sky in appreciation!
Speaking of horns, it’s time to crack out the mead and drink your fill. Amon Amarth (8) are up next and they haven’t come to play around. Bringing out the full Viking helmet drum riser and with ominous inflatable statues flanking the stage. They’ve undoubtedly come packing the biggest stage production of the day so far. Complete with pillars of flame that erupt to the beat of Jocke Wallgren’s pounding kick drums during opener, Guardians of Asgaard.
As spectacles go, it’s tough not to see the appeal. The crowd don’t seem quite as involved as they have during Anthrax and Mastodons sets though. With many simply nodding along during the likes of Shield Wall and Crack the Sky. Rather than hurling themselves into the maelstrom of the mosh pit. They’re on fantastic form tonight, but it seems Amon Amarth aren’t the main draw here in Cardiff.
It takes viral hit, Back into the Oar to coax a little more involvement out of the audience. Many of whom dutifully take their seats and row along to vocalist Johan Heggs commands. We wouldn’t quite call it a horde worthy of a Viking longboat, but it’s a sight to behold nonetheless. Amon Amarth capitalise on the interaction of the crowd to the fullest too. Carrying that momentum through what remains of their set. Winning over a few new followers in the process. Before delivering their parting gift, Twilight of the Thunder God with the kind of aplomb that would gain the favour of Thor himself.
For all of Odin son’s power, even the god of thunder would struggle to command the kind of cult like following as tonight’s main event. With a legacy that precedes them. Slayer (10) have carved a niche into the bedrock of the heavy metal landscape so deep. That the very mention of their name elicits a level of fervour and respect few can match. So, to say you could cut the anticipation with a knife as skilled hands ready their weapons of war behind the curtain that envelopes the stage would be an understatement.
When the stage lights die and the introduction from Delusions of Saviour beings to echo across Blackweir Field. The involuntary urge to scream “F**CKING SLAYER” is borderline primal. Erupting from every corner of an audience that has suddenly become a hive mind. Followed by a triumphant roar as the backing track cuts and the haunting opening arpeggio of South of Heaven replaces it.
The onslaught that follows is reminiscent of the Slayer of old. Clearly refreshed from their time away from full time touring duties. Frontman Tom Arya in particular sounds as good as he ever has as unleash an onslaught of hits. Disciple, War Ensemble, Chemical Warfare, Mandatory Suicide. Each and every one landing with equal parts venom and precision. The crowd are so hyped, that by the time Tom Arya pauses to do his usual introduction for Dead Skin Mask. They finish it for him. Leaving a smile on the singer’s face that’s too genuine to hide. Exactly the same smile that reappears a few songs later. When the audience seemingly refuse to let him sing the final verse of Postmortem either. Screaming it into the night sky for themselves instead.
There are a few deeper cuts for the Slayer faithful masterfully sprinkled throughout the set too. With Spirit in Black and Black Magic making welcome returns. So captivating in fact is the spectacle of Slayer, reunited and renewed. That it’s only when Kerry King and Gary Holt start to harness the screaming wall of apocalyptic feedback that signals Raining Blood. That you realise 90 minutes have passed in what feels like the blink of an eye.
Then the heavens open. That iconic opening riff drops like an anvil and two enormous inverted crosses built from Marshall stacks spontaneously burst into flame on either side of the stage. Ensuring anyone who has not yet lost their mind will be collecting it from the welfare tent afterwards with the rest of us. Throw in a final encore of Angel of Death and you have to recipe for the kind of complete and utter chaos that only Slayer can deliver. Leaving a rippling buzz of electricity coarsing through the crowd as they make their way back down the winding path out of the venue. All hanging on Tom’s cryptic final words, “We’ll see you again soon”, “Maybe”.
They say the last thing a heavyweight boxer loses is their punch and the grand champions of thrash have clearly lost absolutely none of theirs while they’ve been gone. We can only hope they come back as the same well-oiled killing machine again, sooner rather than later! (10)
Slayer photos by Bryce Hall, approved by the band. Thanks to Bryce and team Slayer!
