I admit I went to this concert with a mindset that said that this would be just another Slayer concert, and just as I ended my Fear Factory review for their support show, I felt there was no way Slayer would top what they had just did.
I was in for a surprise…

Already before the band hit the stage, the pressure and the heat from the large crowd was filling the room; if this show wasn’t sold out, it was at least pretty damn near!
So, while sweat was running down our backs, easily noted as we were packed likes sardines in a can, the lights went down, and in the opposite direction a roaring chant of the band name shot out of the numerous throats in the hall.
A drummer-less drumming marked the intro of tonight’s headliner show, and soon after the members of the band poured onto the stage and immediately began punishing our eardrums with a loud but well sounding World Painted Blood.
My guess is that the band had heard their fans well in the backroom, because they were looking particularly pleased, as they should considering the awesome response they were receiving – already in the first song, the crowd proved quite capable of taking on parts of the lyrics by themselves and shouted the title so loudly in the chorus that Tom Araya had a hard time keeping up with the “No sanctuary” reply!
Next up was Disciple, and if the singing of the crowd had impressed in the first one, it was nothing compared to what the moshpit did as I managed to turn my head towards the crowd in this one – even though we were so tightly packed, the middle of the floor still appeared to be a living swarm of sweaty bodies moving in, out and around each other.
Between each song, the deafening Slayer chant picked up again, and when Araya finally decided to introduce a song instead of just moving quickly between them to keep the tempo up, he had to wait for a long time for the voices to die down before he could make himself heard over the din! The song was Mandatory Suicide, and it was introduced with the heard before speech about whether we like our freedom or not and whether or not we are willing to pay the price for this freedom. The funny thing was, no matter what Araya said, he was constantly greeted by enthusiastic roars of Yeah from the crowd, and even he couldn’t help but smile about it after a while even though he had tried to look serious in his speech to begin with.

Seriousness was otherwise something mostly reserved for the lyrics on this fine evening.
On the stage we were instead presented with a band far more lively and present than, well, ever before actually. Honestly, I have never seen Slayer as a whole be this active and engaging, ever. There was a big turn up in the activity when Gary Holt joined the band as a replacement for the then incapacitated Jeff Hanneman, and without disrespecting Hanneman who certainly has contributed a huge amount to the band, Holt was definitely the better live performer, but this evening the rest of the guys joined in as well, something which definitely became the band! Maybe the recent passing of founding member Hanneman has made the rest of them remember to use life to the fullest while they have it? I have no answer to what exactly has prompted this change, I can only applaud that it has happened.
In a tactful and respectful way, Hanneman was also represented at the concert – not by being mentioned by word at any time, but Hanneman’s signature Heineken guitar was present on stage through the entire gig, and for the encore with South Of Heaven and Angel Of Death, the backdrop changed. Also this was designed in the signature Heineken fashion, and bore the words “Angel Of Death – Hanneman – 1964-2013 – Still Reigning”. If this wasn’t a proper respect to give the man who has written such immortal classics for the band, I don’t know what is.

I have already made my feelings clear about the concert in the above text I feel – Slayer has never been better.
They were clearly and without a seconds doubt the crowd favourite this evening. Fr my own part, they delivered the largest surprise, but as I really loved the Fear Factory gig as well, I’ll be damned if I can pick a winner. Except for the audience that is, who were blessed with two top acts, playing to the top of their skills.

Setlist:

World Painted Blood
Disciple
War Ensemble
Hallowed Point
At Dawn They Sleep
Mandatory Suicide
Chemical Warfare
Altar Of Sacrifice
Jesus Saves
Postmortem
Snuff
Hate Worldwide
Seasons In The Abyss
Hell Awaits
Dead Skin Mask
Raining Blood
South Of Heaven
Angel Of Death