By Christopher David<\/p>\n
When it comes to truly great metal bands, to quote one of the finest TV shows of our time, there are no half-measures.<\/p>\n
So it is with Slayer.<\/p>\n
Slayer are, arguably, the last band standing when it comes to truly uncompromising, unwavering thrash metal from the glory days of the genre; while there are certainly bands out there now taking up that challenge – and many are promising – Slayer remain the one example of what you get when a band simply refuses to bend on the core elements and themes of what made them the band they are. Consistency and dedication beget loyalty, which is exactly what the crowds at the Riviera Theater displayed at Slayer\u2019s two-night tour opener in our fair city.<\/p>\n
The first proper North American jaunt in support of 2015\u2019s Repentless <\/em>began with a bang, from the title track show-opener to closer \u201cAngel of Death,\u201d to every fan favorite and deep cut in between. In terms of setlist, there was everything to please both new and old fans alike: those who wanted the \u2018hits\u2019 (\u201cWar Ensemble,\u201d \u201cSouth of Heaven\u201d) and the more obscure but no-less-punishing tunes (the vastly underrated \u201cHallowed Point\u201d and \u201cGod Send Death\u201d) had no reason to leave unsatisfied. Playing in front of a backdrop blacklighting the weeping Christ from their most recent album cover and flanked by inverted crosses, the new material blended beautifully with the old; indeed for the uninitiated, it would have been hard to tell exactly where the songs fell in Slayer\u2019s 35-year catalog, a testament to their consistency and part of the secret to their longevity.<\/p>\n Another part of that secret is recruiting long-time thrash stalwarts Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt for drums and lead guitar, respectively. Bostaph\u2019s history with Slayer now extends further than founding drummer Dave Lombardo, and there\u2019s a reason for that. While Lombardo remains one of the most technically proficient drummers in all of rock and metal, Bostaph is one of the most versatile, and Slayer were right to go back to him when Lombardo left in 2013 – Repentless<\/em> is a career highpoint, and the new material translated perfectly to the stage with an authority and brutality that came across to the crowd. To that end, the new material was not lost on the fans, solidifying the fact that Slayer are not a legacy act – their new material is clearly resonating with their fanbase as deeply as ever.<\/p>\n And of course, no discussion of a new album and tour would be complete without addressing the absence of founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who passed away in 2013 from liver failure. Hanneman\u2019s death was a shockwave through the music industry and left many long-time fans wondering if Slayer would even continue. True, Gary Holt of Exodus fame (and one of Jeff\u2019s best friends) had been filling in since 2011, but there was certainly a standing question in the minds of many as to how the band\u2019s future would be affected by the loss of two founders.<\/p>\n For as deeply as this writer loved Jeff Hanneman, rest assured that Slayer\u2019s future is secure. Gary Holt is the best thing that could have happened to this band in the post Hanneman-era, bringing a fury and vitality to all-time classics like \u201cChemical Warfare,\u201d \u201cBlack Magic,\u201d and \u201cDie By the Sword,\u201d as well as a renewed sense of purpose to the solos on new tracks like \u201cTake Control\u201d and current single \u201cYou Against You.\u201d Holt blends elements of stage presence, balls-out frenzy, and technical prowess to everything he touches and makes it look easy while doing it. He\u2019s Slayer\u2019s secret weapon in 2016, and he brought a renewed vigor to the material that fed frontman Tom Araya (who still possesses a throat full of rage after 30+ years) and guitarist Kerry King, stalwarts in their own right, bringing the sledgehammer riffs and lyrics to frightening life as they always have.<\/p>\n Major changes in a band with a long history always give pause to even the most die-hard fan; perhaps that\u2019s inevitable when so much of a fan\u2019s experience lies in the identity of a revered lineup. This is Slayer 2.0, in many ways – and it\u2019s as good as it\u2019s ever been. They took no prisoners and they showed no mercy. Who would have asked for anything less?<\/p>\n Slayer – Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL, February 19th, 2016 (Night 1)<\/strong><\/p>\n Repentless<\/p>\n Postmortem<\/p>\n Born of Fire<\/p>\n Mandatory Suicide<\/p>\n Hate Worldwide<\/p>\n War Ensemble<\/p>\n When the Stillness Comes<\/p>\n Take Control<\/p>\n Disciple<\/p>\n God Send Death<\/p>\n Die by the Sword<\/p>\n You Against You<\/p>\n Pride in Prejudice<\/p>\n Payback<\/p>\n Seasons in the Abyss<\/p>\n Dead Skin Mask<\/p>\n World Painted Blood<\/p>\n South of Heaven<\/p>\n Raining Blood<\/p>\n Black Magic<\/p>\n Angel of Death<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Slayer – Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL, February 20th, 2016 (Night 2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Repentless<\/p>\n Die by the Sword<\/p>\n Born of Fire<\/p>\n Disciple<\/p>\n God Send Death<\/p>\n War Ensemble<\/p>\n When the Stillness Comes<\/p>\n You Against You<\/p>\n Mandatory Suicide<\/p>\n Chemical Warfare<\/p>\n Postmortem<\/p>\n Hate Worldwide<\/p>\n Vices<\/p>\n Implode<\/p>\n Seasons in the Abyss<\/p>\n Hell Awaits<\/p>\n Dead Skin Mask<\/p>\n Hallowed Point<\/p>\n South of Heaven<\/p>\n Raining Blood<\/p>\n Angel of Death<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more on Slayer, new album and tour, click here<\/a><\/p>\n For photos from the Friday night show at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago, click here<\/a><\/p>\n