Hell ascended to Dublin on Thursday night (1st November 2018) as Slayer kicked off their 'farewell' European run at the city's 3Arena. Bringing with them fellow Big Four originators Anthrax, metalcore leaders Lamb of God and death metal supremos Obituary, it was a night of heavy music in one dark package.
Photo: Darren McVeigh MetalPlanet Music.
By Eamon O'Neill
Hell ascended to Dublin on Thursday night (1st November 2018) as Slayer kicked off their 'farewell' European run at the city's 3Arena. Bringing with them fellow Big Four originators Anthrax, metalcore leaders Lamb of God and death metal supremos Obituary, it was a night of heavy music in one dark package.
Playing their biggest ever Irish date, Slayer's sign off proved to be one of the highlights of the year for heavy music fans, as a packed 3Arena proved just how respected the thrash metal godfathers are.
Kicking off with a brace of tracks from 2015's 'Repentless', the band were in top form from the off, with guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt, and front man Tom Araya commanding from the front.
Leading the crowd in a chant of "WAR!" ahead of a frenetic 'War Ensemble', with poker face and in typical tongue in cheek manner Araya said; "I want all you guys to sound like a mean bunch of angry leprechauns".
It was a rare moment of humour, as the band's catalogue unfolded. Performing some of the cornerstones of metal music, bludgeoning 'Seasons in the Abyss' gave way to the towering 'South of Heaven' and a simply infernal 'Hell Awaits'.
Rounding out the night, as has become traditional, the band dedicated the closing 'Angel of Death' in tribute to late guitarist Jeff Hannema, before receiving an extended ovation. The last to leave the stage, Araya's smile revealed that should this indeed by Slayer's last goodbye, he shall miss it.
Earlier in the evening fellow Big Four innovators Anthrax played a swift set that touched on all corners of their career. Celebrating the recent 30th anniversary re-release of the 'State of Euphoria' album, a pulverising 'Be All End All' was among the highlights of their set.
Acknowledging that they were in Dublin meanwhile, drummer Charlie Benante subtly slipped the drum pattern form U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' into the set, while singer Joey Belladonna couldn't resist giving a nod to Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak'.
Slayer hit the European continent for a continuation of the tour from Wednesday (14th November 2018). For a full list of dates, see below.
Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax & Obituary 2018 European Dates:
Wed 14th Nov - DORTMUND Westfalenhalle
Thu 15th Nov - ZWOLLE Ijsselhal
Sat 17th Nov - MADRID Vistalegre
Sun 18th Nov - BARCELONA St Jordi
Tue 20th Nov - MILAN Mediolanum Forum
Wed 21st Nov - ZURICH Halle 622
Fri 23rd Nov - VIENNA Stadthalle
Sat 24th Nov - FREIBURG Sick Arena
Mon 26th Nov - HAMBURG Barclaycard Arena
Tue 27th Nov - LODZ Atlas Arena
Thu 29th Nov - MUNICH Olympiahalle
Fri 30th Nov - ERFURT Messehalle
Sun 2nd Dec - BERLIN Mercedes-Benz Arena
Mon 3rd Dec - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena
Wed 5th Dec - STOCKHOLM Hovet
Thu 6th Dec - OSLO Spektrum
Sat 8th Dec - HELSINKI Ice Hall
Hell ascended to Dublin on Thursday night (1st November 2018) as Slayer kicked off their 'farewell' European run at the city's 3Arena. Bringing with them fellow Big Four originators Anthrax, metalcore leaders Lamb of God and death metal supremos Obituary, it was a night of heavy music in one dark package.
Playing their biggest ever Irish date, Slayer's sign off proved to be one of the highlights of the year for heavy music fans, as a packed 3Arena proved just how respected the thrash metal godfathers are.
Kicking off with a brace of tracks from 2015's 'Repentless', the band were in top form from the off, with guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt, and front man Tom Araya commanding from the front.
Leading the crowd in a chant of "WAR!" ahead of a frenetic 'War Ensemble', with poker face and in typical tongue in cheek manner Araya said; "I want all you guys to sound like a mean bunch of angry leprechauns".
It was a rare moment of humour, as the band's catalogue unfolded. Performing some of the cornerstones of metal music, bludgeoning 'Seasons in the Abyss' gave way to the towering 'South of Heaven' and a simply infernal 'Hell Awaits'.
Rounding out the night, as has become traditional, the band dedicated the closing 'Angel of Death' in tribute to late guitarist Jeff Hannema, before receiving an extended ovation. The last to leave the stage, Araya's smile revealed that should this indeed by Slayer's last goodbye, he shall miss it.
Earlier in the evening fellow Big Four innovators Anthrax played a swift set that touched on all corners of their career. Celebrating the recent 30th anniversary re-release of the 'State of Euphoria' album, a pulverising 'Be All End All' was among the highlights of their set.
Acknowledging that they were in Dublin meanwhile, drummer Charlie Benante subtly slipped the drum pattern form U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' into the set, while singer Joey Belladonna couldn't resist giving a nod to Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak'.
Slayer hit the European continent for a continuation of the tour from Wednesday (14th November 2018). For a full list of dates, see below.
Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax & Obituary 2018 European Dates:
Wed 14th Nov - DORTMUND Westfalenhalle
Thu 15th Nov - ZWOLLE Ijsselhal
Sat 17th Nov - MADRID Vistalegre
Sun 18th Nov - BARCELONA St Jordi
Tue 20th Nov - MILAN Mediolanum Forum
Wed 21st Nov - ZURICH Halle 622
Fri 23rd Nov - VIENNA Stadthalle
Sat 24th Nov - FREIBURG Sick Arena
Mon 26th Nov - HAMBURG Barclaycard Arena
Tue 27th Nov - LODZ Atlas Arena
Thu 29th Nov - MUNICH Olympiahalle
Fri 30th Nov - ERFURT Messehalle
Sun 2nd Dec - BERLIN Mercedes-Benz Arena
Mon 3rd Dec - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena
Wed 5th Dec - STOCKHOLM Hovet
Thu 6th Dec - OSLO Spektrum
Sat 8th Dec - HELSINKI Ice Hall
