*Photography: Eric KlunkOn the evening of March 5th 2016, the skies appeared a bit darker, the usually cold night was warmed by the steam from the manhole covers and sewer grates surrounding the Fillmore Auditorium in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was almost as if Hell was rising up beneath the city block in which the venue stood. Upon further investigation, I read the marquee above the Fillmore: "SLAYER/TESTAMENT SOLD OUT". Uh-oh…. Here we go again!
Also on the bill tonight was CARCASS. I was familiar with CARCASS from my days of watching "Headbangers Ball" in the 90s and always thought they were pretty decent. I'm now finding out what an underground following this U.K. band has. When CARCASS was linked to this tour, I read on some message boards a good number of people who felt they would be one of the highlights of the tour. After seeing them live tonight, I would have to agree. They offer a unique and technical edge not often heard within the genre.
Setlist:
1. 1985
2. Unfit For Human Consumption
3. Buried Dreams
4. Incarnated Solvent Abuse
5. Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
6. The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
7. Captive Bolt Pistol
8. Corporal Jigsore Quandary
9. Heartwork
Next up was Testament. These guys never disappoint. Chuck Billy's vocals are as spot on as they were in the 80s. I don't know how he does it! When it comes to the musicianship in this band, they some of the best in the business. Nothing but ringers. Gene Hoglan (drums), Steve DiGeorgio (bass), Eric Peterson (guitar), and of course Alex Skolnick (guitar). Any of these guys could fit right into DREAM THEATER flawlessly with their skills.
Due to limited set times, Testament were only able to play eight songs. But contrary to popular belief, size doesn't always matter. And for what the setlist may lack in length, they more than make up for it with a sonic blitzkrieg that comes in fast, assaults you from all angles and then gets the hell out of there before you ever know what happened! Each of the eight songs they chose for this campaign nicely represented the high points of the band's history. No room for between-song banter, guitar or drum solos, just 40 minutes of as much metal as they could pack into it. The way all shows should be – All killer, no filler
Setlist:
1. D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
2. Legions of the Dead
3. Rise Up
4. Dog Faced Gods
5. The New Order
6. Practice What You Preach
7. Into the Pit
8. The Formation of Damnation
"Satan Laughs As You Eternally Rot". That's what SLAYER really stands for right? In all seriousness though, FUCKING SLAYER!!! What else can be said about these guys that any metal fan doesn't already know? You know exactly what you are going to get when you see them live. You aren't going to get an intimate unplugged performance while the band sits on stools and does a VH-1 Storytellers type of show. I wouldn't figure on Blake Shelton coming out and doing a crossover performance where the artists play eachother's songs. And don't count on Rhianna to come out and do guest vocals on SLAYER's new top 40 single. Ain't going to happen!
What you get with SLAYER is exactly what they have been giving us for the last 35 years. Pure uncompromising thrash metal, served up impaled on Satan's trident, straight from the bowels of Hell. It's because of their loyalty to their craft and their fans, that they were able to endure for so long. They still incite brutal pits. They still get kids to risk life and limb by crowd surfing (and one of the crowd surfers that night was in a wheelchair) But those choosing not to engage in bone breaking practices can still find a safe place to stand, drink a beer, and head bang along to their staccato symphony of the damned.
We all miss Hanneman. We all wish Jeff could still be with us. Gary Holt honors his legacy perfectly and it feels like a natural changing of the guard. While it is a shame business logistics hampered Dave Lombardo's tenure in the band, Paul Bostaph is more than qualified to sit on the drum throne. Being that he is SLAYER alumni anyways, choosing Paul was a no brainer.
With
Holt and
Bostasph bringing fresh blood to 21
st century
SLAYER,
Kerry King and
Tom Araya still hold their battle positions on stage and deliver like no one else can. They cover the full gamut of their career by representing a little something from each album of their most classic material, all the way to their most recent album,
"Repentless" in which they played six songs from. Some fans may groan at the notion of their classic bands playing so much new material, but with
SLAYER, it's not an issue. All of the eras of their music blends flawlessly together into one glorious evening of all that is FUCKING
SLAYER!
Setlist:
1. Delusions of Saviour
2. Repentless
3. Postmortem
4. Born of Fire
5. Disciple
6. God Send Death
7. War Ensemble
8. When the Stillness Comes
9. You Against You
10. Mandatory Suicide
11. Hate Worldwide
12. Chemical Warfare
13. Take Control
14. Pride in Prejudice
15. Payback
16. Seasons in the Abyss
17. Hell Awaits
18. Dead Skin Mask
19. World Painted Blood
20. South of Heaven
21. Raining Blood
22. Angel of Death
Note: "Black Magic" appeared on the set list but was not played.
