Bouyant, brutal Slayer mix old and new crowd pleasers

FOR a band that has not had its sorrows to seek recently Slayer still manage to deliver the old school way - hard, fast and brutal.

From tearing into the opener World Painted Blood, through to traditional end of set Angel of Death Slayer were ripe and ready for Belfast, Tom Araya looking more and more like a kindly, beared uncle - until he steps up to the mic.

No faffing about, no need for explanation. this was a straightforward thrash, speed experience.

Yeah, there were a couple of moments that could have been executed better, but so few and so far between only the most picky would have been able to spot the odd errant beat.

After getting the newer material out of the way - including a fine rendition of Hate Worldwide - most of the set was there as crowd pleasers. But, at this stage in their career they are old enough and wise enough to know that the audience wants to hear the old standards.

Don't forget Slayer have no new album cluttering up the shelves - this was about mixing up the set a wee bit,  shaking off the rust, and getting ready for a summer of touring.

What was mightily impressive was the focus and concentration of Kerry King throughout the set. He has played some of these songs for the best part of 30 years, but he still keeps his eyes on the frets lest a stray finger hits a did note.

By the time the headlong rush for Seasons of the Abyss, Dead Skin Mask, and Raining Blood came the band might have needed a break but the fans at the front needed the momentary breather before South of Heaven and Angel of Death.

The most cynical of people might have said that there was something exploitative about Slayer being on the road so soon after laying to rest Hanneman and the public spat witb Lombardo, but that is to miss the point.

Playing their own, uninque brand of metal is what Slayer do. And, Holt has been standing in for so long that he is almost a fixture, as is Bostapath a familiar occupant of the drum stool.

When at some point - many years ago - Slayer took the decision to become a professional gigging band and give up slumming it with the rest of the wannabes it was a commitment to their craft. It is a craft that they have stayed true to.

It isn't always pretty and it isn't always the favoured form of delivery, but Slayer's job is to keep the fans baying for more by staying brutal. Yes they seemed at times restrained, and other times almost buoyant - but they were always going to deliver a set that fans were baying to see.

Roll on August 13th for the second round of Slayer in Belfast:
Don't forget that tickets are on sale at 9am sharp tomorrow (Friday 14th June).