The second leg of Slayer’s farewell North America Tour rolled into Atlanta with special guests Napalm Death, Testament, Anthrax, and Lamb of God playing in front of a massive crowd at the Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood.
Grindcore legends Napalm Death took the stage early and got the crowd excited for what was to come. It is always a special feeling seeing Shane Embury and company live and this was no exception. Despite the extremely short setlist, the band managed to get plenty of applause from the crowd.
Testament followed up with another short but monstrous set including Brotherhood of the Snake, Dog Faced Gods, and my all time favorite, Into the Pit. Chuck Billy and the rest of the band were accompanied by two circle pits: one on the main floor and another on an especially hot and humid lawn area. In terms of thrash history, I consider Testament right up there with Slayer and would have liked to see them take the stage later in the night. Alas, they still had the night’s second best performance.
Anthrax went on stage next and treated the crowd to a short cover of Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell as a tribute to Vinnie Paul and kicked into Caught In A Mosh in a setlist that included Madhouse and Evil Twin. This was my third time seeing Anthrax in the last couple of years and the only thing left to say, aside from the fact that they were awesome, is that they never disappoint.
Lamb of God are hailed as the biggest act in the post-2000 American metal scene and for good reason. The band have developed a unique sound, consistently put out solid records, and tour a great deal. They also enjoy one of the most loyal fanbases in all of metal. Their performance on the night was top-notch even with Chris Adler sitting out this tour.
Despite all of the above, this night belonged to Slayer. As the curtains dropped, the unmistakable sound of Kerry King and Gary Holt’s dual attack filled the air. The memorable night included classics like Disciple, Mandatory Suicide, Black Magic, Seasons in the Abyss, South of Heaven, and Angel of Death. I usually immerse myself in the music at live shows but this one was a bit different. I couldn’t help but focus on the magnitude of this night for those who were present to witness one last Slayer performance, reflecting on a 37-year career that has arguably influenced all subgenres of metal since the early 1980s.
I also felt extremely happy to be there to see it all. I’m not sure what the metal scene will be like without Slayer actively producing music but their legacy will forever be one of uncompromising sonic brutality and innovation.
As far as the immediate future is concerned, the band’s North America Tour wraps up in San Jose on August 26, with the second leg of the European Tour running from November 1 until December 8. The band is also scheduled to play festivals in 2019 with more details to follow soon.
10/10
