Spread the metal:

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.