Well, it wasn’t quite Clash of the Titans, but it was close. In all likelihood, a Clash of the Titans for the younger generations who missed the real one. Wednesday night was when Megadeth and Slayer played together in almost two decades. The openers, Suicide Silence and Machinehead were ho hum. Machinehead used to slay, when they were called Vio-Lence. Check out Eternal Nightmare for some ripping thrash and Gaelic-accented vocals.
The best band tonight was definitely Slayer. Their setlist was:
- Disciple
- Jihad
- War Ensemble
- Chemical Warfare
- Ghosts of War
- Dead Skin Mask
- Live Undead
- Hell Awaits
- Psychopathy Red
- Mandatory Suicide
- Angel of Death
- Raining Blood
- South of Heaven
Some pretty good songs on there, along with the typical must-plays. I’m so disappointed, another Slayer show and nothing off Divine Intervention. Oh well, we got 4 songs off South, we should be happy. Araya was his usual paternal self, launching into Mandatory Suicide with: “Would you die for freedom? Would you do what the people of Iran are doing? They’re committing…..Mandatory Suicide”.
Megadeth was up next. Mustaine is still a a pompous twat, referring to the other bands as: “We’re playing tonight with Slayer, Machinehead and S…..uicide Silence”. Perhaps one day Araya can settle his hash. Deth’s setlist:
- Sleepwalker
- Wake Up Dead
- Hangar 18
- Peace Sells…
- She-wolf
- Kick the Chair
- Head Crusher
- Symphony of Destruction
- Skin O’ My Teeth
- In My Darkest Hour
- Holy Wars…
Not too bad, but plenty of stuff you’ll dislike if you stopped liking them after 1991. Watching Hangar 18 live reminds you of when you discovered Megadeth at 15 and tried to play it, but realized how insanely beyond your capabilities it was! Oh well, the band rolls on.
All in all, a good show. Slayer’s sound wasn’t as good as Megadeth’s, but those are petty gripes. 80 bucks is pricey but it brought out some of the best 80s thrash still alive today.
Next show: Necrophagist + Suffocation. Should be a blast.