NUCLEAR ASSAULT continues their final World Tour now in South America and I had the privilege to attend the show in Sao Paulo. This is not their first time here but it appears so to be the last time, however it was not my first time seeing them and actually I was more excited in seeing the guest band for this last tour which was Canadian Speed Metallers EXCITER. This was my fourth time seeing these Masters Of Mayhem; first it was in 1986 supporting VENOM and that time not being the original line up, second time was in 2013 also not with the original line up, third time in 2014 with the mighty original line up, Beelher, Johnson and Ricci and it was a great performance indeed and they promised to return this year. The promise was fulfilled.

For some reason EXCITER always stayed in the shadows and is seen as an underrated band which is mighty, fucking unfair, in my opinion they are one of the best Speed Metal bands in the world. One of the best Metal albums of all time was released by them and it is still sounding very fresh and kicks asses right now "Heavy Metal Maniac" unleashed in 1983.

As for NUCLEAR ASSAULT, one of the pioneers in the New York area, they are playing a very technical Thrash Metal. These guys mean business and despite the problems or life getting on the way, they did split up and managed to come back few times and even released an album in 2005 "Third World Genocide" thus keeping all the fans very happy. So after a two hours drive, I arrived in Sao Paulo, a hell of a city and fucked up place; luckily it was a Saturday afternoon and the traffic wasn't so bad. Arriving at the venue I was quite surprised with the amount of people who had turned up: around 900, not bad at all.

Just after 8pm the madness begun and EXCITER was in for a great night with "Fall Out" and it was very loud indeed. "Stand Up And Fight" is a classic of all times, the crowd was going crazy and on front of the stage all hell was breaking loose, EXCITER looked  good on stage, leather and chains and the best Speed Metal just there, an amazing sight really. "Victims Of Sacrifice" sent chills up my spine; John Ricci kicks asses, his guitar was sharp as a razor blade and every note was sent straight to our heart and Alan Johnson on the bass also delivered pain and suffering to those with weak ears. "Iron Dogs" was incredibly fucking heavy and everyone singing along with Dan Beelher screaming his guts out, talking to crowd and screaming like a maniac. With "Heavy Metal Maniac" the roof almost came down; I stayed three meters from Dan and watching him playing the drums and singing, the man is amazing full of energy non - stop, incredible; not many people can do what he does.
 

John Ricci's guitar solo is more like a machine gun spitting bullets; great stuff indeed and just like the other times when I saw EXCITER playing, they stole the show from the main acts back then and they did it again this night, this is a fact, a very cool set list with songs picked  from the first three albums. EXCITER rules and they deserve the place high above, Long Live The Loud, Long Live Beelher, Ricci and Johnson!!

Setlist:
1. Fall Out
2. Stand Up And Fight
3. Victims Of Sacrifice
4. Iron Dogs
5. Heavy Metal Maniac
6. Delivering To The Master
7. Violence And Force
8. Long Live The Loud
9. Pounding Metal
10. Beyond The Gates Of Doom
11. Rising Of The Dead
 

After an amazing performance by EXCITER it was time for NUCLEAR ASSAULT  to show us what they had got, I mean the party was theirs so I expected the best really and "Rise From The Ashes " they did. NUCLEAR ASSAULT have to proof nothing to anyone, really. John Connely, Glenn Evans, Dan Lilker really know how to Thrash and the new guy Scott Harrington does a fucking good job too on the guitar and the crowd was in heaven. I would say that half of the crowd came for NUCLEAR and the other half for EXCITER and what happened was both joining forces and the music was just great. "Brainwashed" fans were jumping and crowd surfing and a mix of sweat and beer filled the hall, although EXCITER's set was much louder NUCLEAR were trying hard to keep it up and things were running smoothly, a great selection of songs from all albums kept the crowd pretty happy, for many it was the first time seeing NUCLEAR ASSAULT so I think they were quite happy.
 

Mr Connely was talking to the crowd and letting them know what was going on, they deserve all respect from us and for all the things they have done for the Metal scene, NUCLEAR ASSAULT  have their own style and where most bands failed they did succeed and they will never be forgotten.
 

It was a great performance by them, we will miss them dearly and wish all the best to NUCLEAR ASSAULT, whatever they are doing. A very good evening with two great bands and on my way home I could not erase off that chorus of "Long Live The Loud". Long Live NUCLEAR ASSAULT.

Setlist:
1. Rise From The Ashes
2. Brain Washed
3. New Song
4. Critical Mass
5. Game Over
6. Butt Fuck
7. Sin
8. Betrayal
9. Analog Man
10. Died In Your Arms
11. F# Wake Up
12. When Freedom Dies
13. My America
14. Hang The Pope
15. Lesbians
16. Trail Of Tears
17. Technology
18. Justice