On This Day in History

On this date in history, 9/20/2016, I was front and center for an evening of thrash metal mastery, as Slayer, Anthrax, and Death Angel played an insanely aggressive show at Old National Centre’s Egyptian Room, in downtown Indianapolis. Death Angel began the proceedings with a burst of energy, setting the tone for the entire show. This was my first time to see the veteran Bay area battalion, and I was quite impressed with their musicianship, songs, and enthusiasm. Great vocals and outstanding guitar work, thoroughly top notch. Anthrax raised the bar with their trademark mix of serious thrashing delivered with an equal dose of humor and fun mixed in with their no-nonsense mosh inducing attack. Joey Belladonna was in fine vocal form, truly one of the best singers in metal. I always love to watch Scott Ian and Frank Bello on stage. They have boundless energy and radiate such passion for what they obviously still love to do. Slayer played at peak intensity, boasting the loudest volume of the show, but it was a laser sharp mix, brain rattling and crystal clear at the same time. Tom Araya sounded sensational on his throat shredding roar of a voice, and Kerry King and Gary Holt traded lacerating sonic upheavals of unearthly demon possessed lead guitar throughout Slayer’s brutal masterpiece of a set. If you’ve never witnessed Slayer live, you’ve missed out on the purest form of adrenaline known to mankind!

Written By Braddon S. Williams aka The Concert Critic