Slayer / Gojira / 4 Arm Concert

                I might have died and went to heavy metal heaven. About 15 years in the making, but I finally witnessed, experienced, and absorbed the ALMIGHTY SLAYER. The venue was perfect, the crowd was energetic, pumped, and the sound was amazing. The night started with the thrash metal band 4 Arm, who were obviously influenced by Slayer. Horns were raised, fists were pumping right from the first note. They were defiantly not a bad way to start the night.

                Gojira took the stage next. I have their live DVD The Flesh Alive and it’s nothing compared to physically seeing them live. The guys from France sure do know how to rock out an arena. If it wasn’t for Slayer coming on next, I probably could have watched them play all night. Joe Duplantier sounded great, full of energy and enthusiasm. Songs like “L’Enfant Sauvage” and “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe” were just killer. Their whole set pummeled you to a point of no return. That slide Duplantier does on his guitar is mesmerizing. The band sucks you into their world, and to be honest, not a bad place to be.

                I have been listening to Slayer since High School. For years, seeing them live has evaded me. November 30, 2013, the wait was finally over and it was worth the wait. Would I have loved to see Hanneman (RIP) or even Lombardo?  Yeah of course, but both Holt and Bostaph are no slouches to the Slayer camp. Tom Araya’s vocals were like the Titans crashing down upon us, absolutely brilliant! The chorus for “War Ensemble” is still ringing in my head. Kerry King’s live performance is everything I imagined, but oh so much more. He and Holt destroyed the crowd with face melting riffs that only Slayer can do. I felt like a little kid in a candy store when Season in the Abyss’s “Dead Skin Mask” came on. Even if you wanted to sit still, you couldn’t, some part of you was rocking out. Heck, there was even a kid in a wheelchair crowd surfing. I thought the banner they did for Hanneman was awesome; it was a great tribute to a great guitar player. They closed their set by playing their killer classic “Angel of Death”. The set was so amazing, it flew by. Before you knew it, the lights came on and the show was over. But I can tell you this; it will forever be embedded in my head how great the show was. SLAYER NATION LIVES ON!!!!