Toronto – SLAYER! SLAYER!! SLAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYERRR!!!!! Nothing more need be said. Really. for those who were at this show, or even those who briefly thought about going, you knew it would all come down to SLAYER! Even before we heard a note, we already knew it could only be described thusly: SLAAYYYERR!
“Hey, so how was the show?”
“SLAAYYERR!!”
“So … it was good?”
“Yeah.”
So nothing more needs to be said. But in my role as The Panic Manual’s resident metal expert (a title I just gave myself right this minute), i will elucidate on the concept of SLAYER!!
“I think the planet is heavier at times because Slayer exists. Slayer is the anchor in this world.”
So said Les Claypool, lead singer of Primus, and to Slayer fans, that statement is definitely true. Metal brings out a certain dedication and loyalty in it’s fans to the point where, despite the aggression of the music, concerts can become one big love-in for the bands performing. In that sense, this show reminded me in a weird way of the only other show I saw at the Amphitheatre this summer: The Flaming Lips. I know it sounds weird, but let me explain: while both bands come from diametrically opposed places in terms of their sound and style of performance, each show sort of ended up in the same place – a sense of connection, and a sort of exuberant immersion in the songs. In a sense, “Seasons In The Abyss” = “Do You Realize?” Except with more blood and less balloons.
This show, part of the “Canadian Carnage” tour, (which has been a long time coming after delays and reschedulings due to Slayer vocalist Tom Araya’s back surgery – yes, these guys are getting old, and too much headbanging can apparently mess your back up) was notable for the fact that both Slayer and Megadeth would be playing their 1990 albums, (Seasons In The Abyss, and Rust In Peace respectively) in their entireties. Now, I’m sure neither Megadeth nor Slayer would want to be relegated to the nostaglia circuit (although Slayer at Casino Rama does sound somehow appealing), but let’s face it: no one’s really coming to see you play stuff off your new album. Oh sure, we expect to hear those songs, but even a fan born after those 1990 albums were released and whose first exposure to thse bands is through their most recent albums, has got to recognize that these albums have acheived a sort of classic status. And really, if you’re gonna see Slayer, you might as well see them playing stuff from their most song-oriented album (in my opinion).
So how was the show? It was good. They played all the classics along with a smattering of newer songs, they displayed the right amount of virtuosity (guitar solos galore, especially from Megadeth, and the awesomeness of Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo) and the crowd responded with shouted singalongs and copious headbanging (I swear Beavis and Butthead were sitting next to me – these kids looked exactly like them! Weird). In summation: SLAYER!!!!!!!
“So … it was good?”
“Yeah, it was good.”
Here’s the setlists for all three bands:
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/2010/molson-amphitheatre-toronto-on-canada-13d44961.html
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/megadeth/2010/molson-amphitheatre-toronto-on-canada-1bd44960.html
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/testament/2010/molson-amphitheatre-toronto-on-canada-3d44963.html
