Slayer

Slayer are out on their Final Campaign tour of North America, and I was there having a spiritual experience in the musical pit of Hell. I was fortunate enough to catch Slayer for a second time this year. This show was at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania on November 6, 2019.

For this “final” farewell tour, Slayer have brought along Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Ministry, and Primus. Four groups I actually like all at one show. Surreal would be an understatement. As a young man in the 90’s, I loved Pantera, Ministry, and Primus. Don’t get me wrong, Slayer are amazing too, but they didn’t have quite the impact as the other three bands. Slayer had to grow on me like black mold.

The arena was packed with rabid music fans from all walks of life. The lineup for The Final Campaign tour is varied, but all the bands played well off each other and the audience were mostly respectful. Of course there were lots of Slayer fans chanting “Slayer!, Slayer!, Slayer!” throughout the opening bands sets, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. Everyone appeared to be having a blast.

Philip H. Anselmo (aka Phil Anselmo of Pantera) & The Illegals took the stage first. Anselmo treated the fans to a 30-minute set of Pantera songs. Ex-Pantera vocalist Anselmo grabbed the microphone and said, “y’all ready to hear some classic Pantera songs tonight?”. What followed was unbelievable. Noteworthy songs played by The Illegals included; “Mouth for War,” “Becoming,” “Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit,” Domination/Hollow,” and “A New Level.”

Next up was Ministry. They are my personal favorite band on the tour and played a classic set of late 80’s and early 90’s Ministry songs. Al Jourgensen and company blasted through a short set of some of my favorite Ministry songs. The sad, confused, angry and angst-ridden teenager inside me had another cathartic spiritual awakening upon hearing the opening songs of the bands set. This was my first-time seeing Ministry in an arena. Frontman Jourgensen said to the crowd, “we’re gonna play some old ones for you tonight.” Noteworthy songs played by Ministry included; “The Missing,” “Deity,” “Stigmata,” “Just One Fix,” “Thieves,” and “Jesus Built My Hotrod.”

Third band to hit the stage was Primus. I must have seen Primus about 12-13 times by now. They never disappoint. Primus also played a fairly short, but great set of classic Primus songs. The band played an all early to mid-90’s set. I was overjoyed to final make it into the photo pit at a Primus show. Noteworthy songs Primus played included; “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” “Sgt. Baker,” Pudding Time,” “Frizzle Fry,” “Welcome to This World,” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.”

And then there was Slayer. Whoa. I can recall a little of what followed, but I was so caught up in the insanity I’m not 100% sure what happened. It was like being throw into the pits of Hell. However, it felt much more like being in Heaven.

Yep…the almighty fast, aggressive, and nightmarish Slayer rained blood and fire during their performance. The “Big Four” thrash metal gods fucking pummeled the audience with some of the most intense and moving metal music out there. The stage production was out of this world. Slayer’s show had lights, flames, smoke, pentagrams, skulls, and other mind-blowing eye candy.

Covering their entire career, Slayer played a killer set of classic thrash metal material covering the ’80s, ’90s, and some of their more recent material as well. The feeling of being in the photo pit at a Slayer show is like none other I’ve experienced — better than any drug and without a hangover. Noteworthy songs Slayer played included; “Mandatory Suicide,” “War Ensemble,” “Seasons in the Abyss,” “Jesus Saves,” “Chemical Warfare,” “Hell Awaits,” “South of Heaven,” “Show No Mercy,” “Raining Blood,” “Dead Skin Mask,” and “Angel of Death.” From what I understand, this is Slayer’s last tour, for real. If you’re not an idiot, you’ll buy yourself and all your best friends and family tickets to see Slayer while you still have a chance. I mean who wouldn’t want to have their face melted off in Hell with Slayer?!?

Enjoy photos of all four bands performing on November 6th. All photos copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson of Hazy Eye Music Media.