Story and Photos by Edwin Folven
Whenever Slayer comes to town, you know it’s going be an adrenaline-fueled, raucous good time.
The band continues to perennially kick it up a notch with each tour, blistering fans with a multi-sensory stage show complementing a hardcore musical cacophony unmistakably Slayer. That was the case on Saturday, Aug. 5, when Slayer performed at The Forum in Inglewood. After opening acts Behemoth and Lamb of God whipped the crowd into a frenzy, Slayer took the stage and unleashed a furious set of cutting-edge newer material coupled with classic songs from the band’s extensive catalog.
From the opening song, “Repentless,” on Slayer’s 2015 album by the same name, the audience knew it would be a heart-pounding affair. Longtime fans rejoiced when the band followed that up with “The Antichrist,” from the band’s 1983 debut studio album, “Show No Mercy.”
What came next was two hours of mayhem capped with many of the best songs in Slayer’s repertoire. “War Ensemble,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Hell Awaits,” “South of Heaven,” “Chemical Warfare” and “Angel of Death” were performed with precision.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the night came when Slayer played “Raining Blood,” from the band’s quintessential 1986 album, “Reign in Blood.” A dazzling pyrotechnics show served as a backdrop.
Slayer has solidified its place at the top of the hardcore metal genre at its concert on Aug. 5 at The Forum. So next time Slayer comes to town, be sure to strap on your boots and get ready for a rip-roaring raucous good time.
