
SLAYER
with
LAMB OF GOD
ANTHRAX
TESTAMENT
NAPALM DEATH
Fiddler’s Green – Denver, CO
August 18th, 2018
Words and pictures by Kyle Moore, the Metal Magnus
This being SLAYER’s “final” world tour, I was quite excited to get photo clearance for this ridiculously awesome bill of bands. I saw SLAYER perform as a teenager, so getting a second shot at seeing these living legends was most delightful. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get clearance to shoot TESTAMENT or NAPALM DEATH, so I don’t have photos for that. I caught the tail-end of TESTAMENT’s set, so that’s one more classic metal band I can claim to have seen!
ANTHRAX
I’ve seen ANTHRAX on at least one (maybe two? occasions) back in my wayward youth, when John Bush was still their singer. So seeing classic-lineup singer Joey Belladonna was a treat I was very much anticipating. I vividly remember how utterly awesome ANTHRAX’s shows were as a teen, so I had high expectations. They did not disappoint! These guys still have massive energy and enthusiasm for what they do, especially bassist Frank Bello, who is quite possibly the zaniest man I’ve ever seen on a stage.
Their setlist leaned pretty heavily on their classic catalogue, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any fan who’d complain about that.
SETLIST:
- Caught in a Mosh
- Got the Time
- Madhouse
- Be All, End All
- Evil Twin
- Anti-Social
- Indians
LAMB OF GOD
LAMB OF GOD represents the most “modern” sound of any band on today’s bill – I’ll be the first to admit that I can’t really define what it is they’re trying to do, or that I care for it much. It’s just not my style. That said, frontman Randy Blythe is a very entertaining frontman. And quite angry?
Setlist:
- Omerta
- Ruin
- Walk With Me In Hell
- Now You’ve Got Something to Die For
- 512
- Engage the Fear Machine
- Blacken the Cursed Sun
- Laid to Rest
- Redneck
SLAYER
Nothing screams “SLAYER” like gratuitous amounts of fire. SLAYER’s pyro show alone was a breathtaker.
Their sonic quality was also incredible – every riff sliced, every one of Tom Araya’s yells cut through. Getting this much sonic clarity at a metal show is pretty rare.
It was also apparent that despite SLAYER’s age, they are still a rollicking force. They clearly still enjoy themselves.
Setlist:
- Repentless
- Blood Red
- Disciple
- Mandatory Suicide
- Hate Worldwide
- War Ensemble
- Jihad
- When the Stillness Comes
- Postmortem
- Black Magic
- Payback
- Seasons on the Abyss
- Dittohead
- Dead Skin Mask
- Hell Awaits
- South of Heaven
- Raining Blood
- Chemical Warfare
- Angel of Death
Farewell SLAYER! You will be missed!