With a nod to one of metal's most legendary treks - Clash of the Titians the 1990 event featuring Slayer, Megadeth and Testament - Thrash of the Titians, with an equally riff-roaring line-up landed in Dublin on Thursday night [9th October 2025]. Taking place in the beautiful confines of the ornate Olympia Theatre, the bill featured dual headliners Testament and Obituary, along with Destruction and Nervosa.
Photo; Darren McLoughlin.
Tonight is a celebration. Less than a year after their last appearance in the capital, and on the eve of the release of their latest studio set, Testament's are in fine form as they return to Dublin. Chatting to eonmusic ahead of the show, guitarist Alex Skolnick also reveals that four shows into this trek that will see them play nineteen dates across Europe, they're finally settled in, not least because their own instruments have finally arrived and they're no longer relying on hired gear. All of which bodes well for a thrash metal masterclass.
With the all female Brazilian-Greek metal machine Nervosa and German Big Four legends Destruction doing a fine job in warming things up for the sold out crowd, it's co-headliners Obituary who receive a heroes' welcome. Celebrating thirty-five years of their breakthrough 'Cause of Death', their backdrop features its instantly-recognisable artwork, setting the scene for what's to come; a harsh lesson in Death Metal brutality.
Making their third visit to Ireland in as many years, the Florida band of brothers may have a reputation for playing music at the extreme end of the metal spectrum, but it is in fact, far more tuneful than they're given credit for.
Led by the Tardy bothers - John [vocals], and Donald [drums] - and featuring founding guitarist Trevor Peres, the five-piece rip through the classics including - appropriately - more than half of the 'Cause of Death' album, a Celtic Frost cover in 'Circle of the Tyrants', and closing where it all began, with the title track of their 1989 debut 'Slowly We Rot'.
Tighter than Donald's impressive reverb-heavy snare, and with incredible fretwork from lead player Kenny Andrews, the singularly impressive signature vocals of John Tardy prove the icing on this death metal cake.
With the all female Brazilian-Greek metal machine Nervosa and German Big Four legends Destruction doing a fine job in warming things up for the sold out crowd, it's co-headliners Obituary who receive a heroes' welcome. Celebrating thirty-five years of their breakthrough 'Cause of Death', their backdrop features its instantly-recognisable artwork, setting the scene for what's to come; a harsh lesson in Death Metal brutality.
Making their third visit to Ireland in as many years, the Florida band of brothers may have a reputation for playing music at the extreme end of the metal spectrum, but it is in fact, far more tuneful than they're given credit for.
Led by the Tardy bothers - John [vocals], and Donald [drums] - and featuring founding guitarist Trevor Peres, the five-piece rip through the classics including - appropriately - more than half of the 'Cause of Death' album, a Celtic Frost cover in 'Circle of the Tyrants', and closing where it all began, with the title track of their 1989 debut 'Slowly We Rot'.
Tighter than Donald's impressive reverb-heavy snare, and with incredible fretwork from lead player Kenny Andrews, the singularly impressive signature vocals of John Tardy prove the icing on this death metal cake.
Although billed as a dual headliner, it's Testament who top the bill, which is fitting, given they're routinely cited the honorary fifth member of American Thrash's Big Four.
Opening with the pummelling one-two of 'D.N.R (Do Not Resuscitate)' and 'WWIII', the band are in ferocious form from the off, and with a mid-period opener and a new track following, it's fitting that a stone-cold old school classic in 'Practice What You Preach' follows.
With a shorter set time, the talking is kept to a minimum, however the always amiable Chuck Billy is quick to greet the Dublin crowd, asking; "how are we doing tonight my friends?" Later, when he spots a couple of young kids in corpse paint on the balcony, he quips that he's just seen Kiss's Gene Simmons and Peter Criss in the crowd; "I thought Gene would show up tonight, but I heard he's been in a car accident", he jokes.
Back to the music, and changing up their set in recent years, it's been refreshing to see that Testament are unafraid to take chances byshowing off their more melodic side with the ballads returning. Tonight we're treated to not only the sublime 'Return to Serenity', but deep dive 1994 track 'Trail of Tears'; a song played only a handful of times since its release over three decades ago.
But this tour isn't called 'Thrash of the Titians' for nothing, and with 'Low', 'Native Blood', and latest single 'Infanticide AI' raising the BPM considerably the originators more than retain the edge on a tour more than lives up to its name.
Raising shots of whisky to celebrate the release of new album 'Para Bellum' the next day, Testament take their bows with huge grins on their exhausted faces.
Tonight’s performance was more than just another stop on the tour, it’s a reaffirmation of Testament’s enduring power and precision. With all four bands tonight firing on all cylinders, the 'Thrash of the Titans' tour delivers exactly what fans came for; a blistering celebration of thrash metal, performed by masters of the craft.
As they gear up to unleash their 14th studio album, Testament’s triumphant return to Dublin proves that decades in, their fire still burns as fiercely as ever.
Opening with the pummelling one-two of 'D.N.R (Do Not Resuscitate)' and 'WWIII', the band are in ferocious form from the off, and with a mid-period opener and a new track following, it's fitting that a stone-cold old school classic in 'Practice What You Preach' follows.
With a shorter set time, the talking is kept to a minimum, however the always amiable Chuck Billy is quick to greet the Dublin crowd, asking; "how are we doing tonight my friends?" Later, when he spots a couple of young kids in corpse paint on the balcony, he quips that he's just seen Kiss's Gene Simmons and Peter Criss in the crowd; "I thought Gene would show up tonight, but I heard he's been in a car accident", he jokes.
Back to the music, and changing up their set in recent years, it's been refreshing to see that Testament are unafraid to take chances byshowing off their more melodic side with the ballads returning. Tonight we're treated to not only the sublime 'Return to Serenity', but deep dive 1994 track 'Trail of Tears'; a song played only a handful of times since its release over three decades ago.
But this tour isn't called 'Thrash of the Titians' for nothing, and with 'Low', 'Native Blood', and latest single 'Infanticide AI' raising the BPM considerably the originators more than retain the edge on a tour more than lives up to its name.
Raising shots of whisky to celebrate the release of new album 'Para Bellum' the next day, Testament take their bows with huge grins on their exhausted faces.
Tonight’s performance was more than just another stop on the tour, it’s a reaffirmation of Testament’s enduring power and precision. With all four bands tonight firing on all cylinders, the 'Thrash of the Titans' tour delivers exactly what fans came for; a blistering celebration of thrash metal, performed by masters of the craft.
As they gear up to unleash their 14th studio album, Testament’s triumphant return to Dublin proves that decades in, their fire still burns as fiercely as ever.