Live Review: Slayer and Anthrax decimated Montreal’s Metropolis

Slayer with Anthrax and Death Angel 
Metropolis
September 13, 2016
Photos by Jason Hughes

Slayer and Anthrax could easily rest on their laurels. As one half of “The Big Four” of thrash metal alongside Metallica and Megadeth, both bands have earned the right to coast along on their substantial back catalogues and bust out a set of greatest hits each night. Yet as this current tour proves, neither band is content to simply roll along on auto-pilot. With strong new releases under their belts, each band dedicated a substantial amount of their respective sets to cuts from their latest albums, demonstrating their commitment to continue moving forward, while many of their peers are content to simply look back.

Anthrax took to the stage like conquering heroes, and proceeded to run through a tight set of classics and material from this year’s For All Kings. The fact that they could likely fill Metropolis on their own wasn’t lost on the crowd, who packed nearly every inch of the venue by the time the Brooklyn foursome hit the stage. What’s exciting about watching Anthrax live is that there are essentially three front men competing for your attention, with singer Joey Belladonna pacing across the stage with his trademark half mic-stand and kibitzing with the crowd, guitarist Scott Ian stomping in his own little onstage mosh pit, and bassist / natural energy source Frank Bello head-banging wildly thought nearly the entire set.

With half of their 60-minute set dedicated to material from For all Kings, they chose their remaining time wisely – “Caught in a Mosh,” “Anti-Social,” and “Indians” were all greeted with thunderous sing alongs, with a few of the springier members of the crowd trying their best to crowd surf over the tightly packed floor. Anthrax might not be the world’s biggest thrash band, but they are definitely the most fun.

On the other hand, fun is likely the last word you would use to describe Slayer. Even 35 years on, the band still project an air of menace, and last night was no exception. Opening with a projection of upside-down crosses, the band launched into “Repentless,” the pounding title track to their latest LP. By this time the middle-aged crowd was well-lubricated; beers were spilling, feet were being stomped on, and there was a continuous rush towards the jam-packed front of the stage.

As opposed to the constant movement of Anthrax, Slayer are nearly stoic, apart from guitarist Kerry King’s constant pacing (which is saying something, given the pounds of chains hanging off his pants). Frontman Tom Araya likely didn’t move more than a few inches from the mic stand all night, but it hardly mattered, as the band delivered a perfect set that easily wove in their newer material with the classics the rabid crowd had come to expect. Speaking of classics, how’s this for a closing barrage: “Hell Awaits,” “South of Heaven,” “Raining Blood,” “Black Magic,” and finally, “Angel of Death,” with Araya’s opening wail in fine form.

There is no other long-standing metal band that still elicits such devotion / insanity from their fans, and last night did nothing to sway the Slayer Nation faithful.

Scroll down for additional shots from the show, including openers Death Angel, courtesy of Jason Hughes. For all upcoming tour dates visit slayer.net and anthrax.com.

Slayer

Anthrax

Death Angel