Slayer
August 26, 1996
Whiskey a Go Go, Los Angeles, CA

Concert Review By Doug Kasper

 

 

The first time I saw Slayer play it was January 15, 1995 at the Shrine Expo Hall. That show was one of the best concerts that I had ever attended. Little did I know that someday I would see another heavy metal concert that would be one hundred times better. For those of you who think that another band could put on a better show then Slayer, you're dreaming. Just last night I saw Slayer at the Whiskey. For those of you who haven't been to the Whiskey, it is a very small venue. It is a great place to see a show and an even better place to see Slayer.

 
 
After two weak opening bands, DFL and Unsane, Slayer hit the stage at around 10:30 with South of Heaven. Yes a song that starts out slow. But, in true Slayer fashion, what starts out slow doesn't always stay that way. Midway through the song it started picking up speed and, as was expected, so did the pit. It was one of the most awesome spectacles I have ever witnessed.

This show was in support of the album Undisputed Attitude, a montage of punk songs and three new Slayer tracks, but this show was not about playing stuff from that album, this show was about playing Slayer songs, both songs covered by Slayer and original tracks. By the end of the night Slayer had stormed their way through twenty-one. Highlights of the night were the songs, Chemical Warfare, Angel of Death, Raining Blood, War Ensemble, and Dead Skin Mask, on which the audience particpated all the way through. You may be asking yourself if these songs stood out in the minds of the people there. I doubt it. Since we are talking about Slayer, every single song was backed by a level of intensity that you don't find from many other bands out there. Slayers new drummer made it quite evident that he new what he was doing. He kept the music pumping with the double bass drum action and a drum kit that the audience started cheering about when it was unveiled. A la Alex Van Halen the drum kit was complete with a gong that was used during Dead Skin Mask that added an awesome touch to the song. Araya, was in fine form on every single song. Whether the fast paced tunes from their many albums or the slower tunes, he was on all night long. The twin guitar attack of King and Hanneman was amazing at the worst and downright unbelievable the rest of the time. The feeling and power was there through songs like The Antichrist, Mr. Freeze, Mandatory Suicide, Sex.Murder.Art, Gemini, I Hate You and Seasons in the Abyss. Slayer definetly kept the audience sated from beginning to end. There really isn't much else to say except that, if you are a Slayer fan and you missed seeing Slayer on the Undisputed Attitude tour you missed out on, quite possibly, the best heavy metal show you will EVER see.

 
 
Set list ( in no particular order): The Antichrist, Chemical Warfare, Captor of Sin, South of Heaven, Mandatory Suicide, Abolish Government, I Hate You, Filler/I Don't Want to Hear It, Mr.Freeze, Richard Hung Himself, Gemini, Angel of Death, Raining Blood, Killing Fields, Sex.Murder.Art, Dittohead, Hell Awaits, Necrophiliac, War Ensemble, Dead Skin Mask, and Seasons in the Abyss.
 

Comments, Suggestions, Hate Mail, etc.

Home Page