Slayer & Anthrax, Auckland NZ, 2019

Slayer & Anthrax

15th March 2019
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters. Feature Artwork by Leon Taylor.

Together they are half of the Big Four, and last night at Auckland’s Eventfinda Stadium they delivered a show that will forever have scorched the very earth upon which they played. Yes, in a double header show that few fans will ever forget Anthrax and Slayer descended like metal winged angels before a legion of thousands of fans, the evening tinged with a bittersweet aftertaste due to the fact that the show is part of Slayers final world tour.

The stock standard rule of ‘don’t wear the shirt of the band you are about to see’ was thrown out the window as the majority of the fans swept through the gates proudly adorned in Slayer t-shirts that were a tableau of the touring history of the band itself, fans nodding in respect to each other as overseas tour dates and vintage designs were noted. The impressive sweeping stage greeted all with open arms, those who had been lined up outside the doors since three in the afternoon making a beeline straight for the sacred front barrier and locking themselves into position.

Heads almost whiplashed when just over ninety minutes later the familiar guitar riffage of Panteras ‘Cowboys from Hell’ screamed out from the speakers, the notes like sweet nectar that pulled the crowd in tighter. The legends had arrived.

Against a massive backdrop depicting a marching skeleton horde stood New Yorkers Anthrax, armed and very much ready to bring their New Zealand fans to their knees with a blistering set. For nearly four decades Anthrax have brought the goods over eleven massive studio albums, their set list last night delivering some of their best tracks to the party. Straight into high gear with the rather appropriately titled ‘Caught in a Mosh’ it was immediately evident that Anthrax were here to kick collective ass.

‘Madhouse’ was just that, fans down the front stomping their feet and for those that had it flailing their hair like organic flags of tribute. Lead vocalist Joey Belladonna was on form, belting out lyrics and working the stage, both Scott Ian and the more recent addition to the band (ex Shadows Fall lead guitarist) Jon Danais, providing the chugging riff. One of the most notable points of Anthrax’s set was just how much fun the five members appeared to be having as they bounded about the stage smashing out tracks like ‘Fight Em’ Til You Can’t’ and ‘Evil Twin’.

A breakneck cover of Trusts ‘Antisocial’ from their 1988 album State of Euphoria – a track that no one can deny Anthrax have fully made their own – was a definitive highlight of the set, thousands of voices joined together with the band as one. Then, all too quickly Anthrax had come to the end, the iconic ‘Indians’ taking it home in style.

The audience weren’t left waiting for long before the undisputed heavyweights of the night Slayer stormed the stage, blood curdling screams emanating from their fans as a sea of horns were raised sky high in tribute. Before them stood Tom Araya, pangs of sadness tugging at the corners of peoples minds as they resigned themselves to the fact that this would be the last time Araya would stand before them in Auckland, New Zealand.

Taking no prisoners set opener (from their last album of the same name) ‘Repentless’ tore the arena apart, track after track in the form of ‘Blood Red’, ‘Disciple’ and a brain dissolving version of ‘Mandatory Suicide’ pummelling the fans. Kerry King shredded like a man possessed, his B.C. Rich V guitar glinting in the stage lights that morphed from living dead green to fires of hell red, periodic flashes of pyro lighting up the arena to howls of euphoria from all in attendance.

With a career that spans twelve studio albums and almost four decades, putting together a set list that encapsulates the essence of Slayer would be a nail-biting experience for anyone. But judging from the crowd’s reaction last night, Slayer delivered the perfect balance of fan favourites; the venom of a nefarious version of ‘Payback’ followed by those evocative opening notes of ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ that crept out from the shadows and infiltrated the crowd, the long fingers of insanity clawing at passing temples as Araya bellowed the long held notes of the chorus.

The final half of the set brought forth some of their best material played out against the more traditional backdrop of the Slayer emblem which had replaced the stunning crucified Christ one which the band had opened with. Fans sang every word of ‘Dead Skin Mask’ shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters of metal, ‘South of Heaven’ coming in close behind before the chaos of ‘Raining Blood’ poured from the speakers; a small ache of disappointment that this would not be a live version to include actual rains of blood on stage. In many ways there could be only one song to finish on, ‘Angel of Death’ seeing Auckland give themselves over entirely in tribute to the band that has meant so much to so many.

As the lights came up the entire band stood before their beloved fans, Holt, King and drummer Paul Bostaph handing out pics and sticks to the fortunate chosen few. But more noticeably Tom Araya was standing in the darkened left-hand corner silently looking up into the stands. As the other members drifted off, Araya continued his slow pilgrimage across the stage, taking in each section of the audience and making eye contact with as many as he could. The process took several minutes, the atmosphere very much one of reverence and yes, sadness. This was Tom Arayas goodbye and everyone felt it, right down to the very pits of their bellies. Returning to the microphone Araya spoke the words that would echo in his fans hearts for years to come; “All I can say is, Thank You”.

No. Thank you Slayer. Thank You.

Were you there at Eventfinda Stadium for this thrash metal masterclass? Or have you seen Slayer or Anthrax perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Slayer Setlist:

1. Repentless
2. Blood Red
3. Disciple
4. Mandatory Suicide
5. Hate Worldwide
6. War Ensemble
7. Jihad
8. Captor Of Sin
9. When The Stillness Comes
10. Postmortem
11. Black Magic
12. Payback
13. Seasons In The Abyss
14. Born Of Fire
15. Dead Skin Mask
16. Hell Awaits
17. South Of Heaven
18. Raining Blood
19. Chemical Warfare
20. Angel Of Death

Anthrax Setlist:

1. Caught In A Mosh
2. Got The Time [Joe Jackson cover]
3. Madhouse
4. I Am The Law
5. Fight Em’ ‘Til You Can’t
6. Be All, End All
7. Evil Twin
8. Antisocial [Trust cover]
9. Indians

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