LIVE REVIEW: Slayer @ Manchester Arena, Manchester

When SLAYER announced their farewell world tour back in January, the clock starting ticking to the end of one of metal’s biggest names. With a career spanning decades, a back catalogue containing some of the best songs ever written and thousands of live performances under their belts, the influence and importance of the American thrashers is unprecedented. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and so, as the farewell tour enters Manchester, anticipation is rife amongst the thousands of fans gathered to witness the thrash legends one last time.

Whilst the focus here is very much towards SLAYER, the band intend tonight to be quite the spectacle and Floridian death metal veterans OBITUARY prove to be the perfect opening for the night’s action. Sure, their notoriety might not match tonight’s headliners and death metal may feel somewhat unnatural under the spotlights of an arena, but by God, do OBITUARY make good of the opportunity. Redneck Stomp‘s mid-tempo chug engulfs Manchester Arena as the band begin proceedings, and it becomes quickly apparent that their slow, hulking brand of death metal feels even more impressive on the bigger stage and the intensity rarely dips from there on. Vision In My Head‘s gut-punching riffing is simple yes, but it is so effective as heads bang throughout the arena, and vocalist John Tardy‘s guttural growls and manic shrieks only further bolster their firepower. Rarely letting up the intensity, the band blister through their short time on stage and concluding with death metal classic Slowly We Rot ensures that the evening is off to the best possible start.

Rating: 8/10

It seems fitting that for SLAYER‘s farewell they bring one of their compatriots from the Big Four along for the ride and ANTHRAX are just the band to inject some energy into the now swelling crowd. Arguably one of the most consistent bands in thrash metal, often putting younger and more energetic bands to shame, the veteran thrashers waste absolutely no time in getting the adrenaline surging. Caught In A Mosh is a bonafide anthem in its own right and opening the set with it just shows that the band are intent in leaving no one standing still. Instantly, the crowd surges and from there on, they keep the party going. Scott Ian and Jonathan Donais keep the riffs flying out the gates at breakneck speed whilst Joey Belladonna prowls the stage with infectious enthusiasm and delivering his trademark vocals to a consistent standard. Antisocial is met with legions of fans screaming the chorus back at the band, Evil Twin (taken from 2016’s, and most recent record, For All Kings) shows the band are still looking forward and concluding the set with a magnificent rendition of Indians goes down an absolute storm. SLAYER may be marching towards the end, but judging the intensity of ANTHRAX‘s movement on stage and their razor-sharp delivery tonight, there is more than enough gas left in the tank for the foreseeable future.

Rating: 8/10

Tonight may be a celebration of one of heavy metal’s biggest bands, but looking across the downright incendiary reaction as LAMB OF GOD dive into opener Omerta, SLAYER‘s heir to the throne are ready and waiting. Providing little let-up, Virginia’s finest keep the adrenaline surging as they plough through a set that sets a real statement of intent. Ruin‘s monumental riffing threatens to tear the ceiling down, 512‘s mid-tempo swings and triumphant chorus comes across as an instant anthem in the arena setting and the inclusion of Blacken The Cursed Sun proves to be a nice touch for fans who have followed the band for many years. Performing to pin-point precision, the band feel comfortable on the biggest of stages and this especially applies to frontman Randy Blythe. His interaction with the crowd is spot on, keeping his interactions brief but delivered with such confidence he holds them in the palm of his hand, before hurling into another bout of vicious vocal snarls that demonstrates his prowess. It’s a performance that demonstrates LAMB OF GOD‘s meteoric rise and as the crowd erupt into chaos as they close out with Redneck, the future of metal on the biggest of stages is more than secure.

Rating: 9/10

Up to this point, many in attendance could leave the venue happy with what they’ve witnessed but the reality is, tonight is all about SLAYER. And what followed was a celebration. A celebration of one of the best metal bands to ever walk this earth. The deafening roar that greeted the band as the banner dropped and opening salvo Repentless began was simply jaw-dropping, and from there, the band proceed to give a performance to remember.

Armed with an arsenal of impressive pyrotechnics and a collection of songs from across their distinguished career, SLAYER provided the sonic intensity to match the incendiary blasts behind them. Kerry King and Gary Holt (a staple in the band’s lineup since the tragic passing of Jeff Hanneman in 2013) provided riffs of devastatingly excellent quality whilst Tom Araya‘s booming vocals held their own. From the wicked cries of “GOD HATES US ALL” in sacrilegious Disciple to the harrowing scream of “WAAAAAAR” in War Ensemble, SLAYER were performing like their lives depended on it.

And what a reaction it spawned. With a sea of people losing their collective shit to each track, the connection between band and fan was clearly set in stone. The pit swelled to the colossal swinging riffs of Seasons In The Abyss, Black Magic sounded as venomous in 2018 as it did back when it was released over three decades ago and the sound of thousands of people screaming the spine-tingling chorus of Dead Skin Mask raised the hairs on the back of your neck. Ensuring that the night was capped off just as they began, a four song encore of South of Heaven, Raining Blood, Chemical Warfare and the infamous Angel of Death bring the hammer down on a performance of real might. And as the dust settles and a solitary Tom Araya looks upon the cheering masses, SLAYER remain as a band in a league of their own. If this really is to be the last outing of thrash metal’s most devilishly incredible band then their last outing will be one of fiery perfection. There just isn’t anyone quite like them.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our stunning photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Sabrina Ramdoyal Photography here: