Slayer / The Haunted Live Review and Setlist London HMV Forum 02/06/2010
The Long View
A last minute decision to see Slayer and The Haunted at the first of their recent London dates meant
that there were no standing tickets available, so instead for just about the first time ever I was condemned
to watch the show from the Balcony of the HMV Forum. This was quite a different experience from being up against
the barrier at Slayer's recent Manchester Show.
So how did the experience differ, and how did Slayer look from this elevated viewing position ?
The first impression from my seat on the aisle in the second row, was that the view was (obviously) much
better. Whereas at Manchester I basically spent the whole show looking up at Kerry King, here you could see the
whole stage and get a better imperssion of how the band used the space.
First up were Swedish thrashers The Haunted, and once again they took an initially indifferent crowd and really
got them warmed up for the main event. Unfortunately the sound for their set was awful, by far the worst of the three
shows of theirs I have seen this week. A case of the headliners keeping the upstarts in their place ?
At least they were allowed to show their logo on Slayer's back screen...
Amazingly (or maybe not quite so amazingly) the sound for Slayer was MUCH better. As they came on and got a couple of
tracks from their latest album out the way early on the place just exploded (not literally, obviously). It was interesting
to be looking down on the pits that opened up as the good people of London let it rip.
World Painted Blood
Hate Worldwide
Cult
It was strange watching the pack of photographers in the photo pit. At one point there were 5 round
Kerry King and only one in front of poor old Jeff Hanneman. So if you want to get your photo taken it obviously
pays to be a big tattooed skinhead.
Next up in the set were a couple of particular crowd favorites. Expendable Youth got the biggest cheer of the
evening so far, but they best was yet to come.
Disciple
Expendable Youth
War Ensemble
Jihad
After the insanity of War Ensemble and Jihad Slayer slowed it down a notch with a stunning rendition
of 'Beauty Through Order', a track that really comes into it's own live.
Slayer continued to pick the cream of their comprehensive back catalogue to provide a set-list
that covered their entire career, right back to their earliest releases. The only 'problem' is that
with such a great selection to chose from some classic tracks will be omitted.
Beauty Through Order
Payback
Seasons in the Abyss
Hell Awaits
The sad thing is that this overabundance of great tracks means we will probably never see the likes
of 'Necrophiliac' or 'Criminally Insane' live again. I'm not sure if their replacements are quite the
same. How many would rather hear 'Jihad' than, for example, 'Die By The Sword' ?
Watching Slayer from on high, it was interesting to see the dynamic between the two guitarists.
Kerry King certainly looks the part with his various flying-V axes and scary image and he spends more
tile playing it up to the crowd, whereas Jeff Hanneman is less active, but throws some amazing solos.
Of the two Jeff is the definitely the better shredder, but Kerry looks like he is having more fun :)
Mandatory Suicide
Chemical Warfare
Raining Blood
Aggressive Perfector
Slayer slipped in a couple of real oldies into their set. I've never been a huge fan of 'Aggressive
Perfector' although it works perfectly well live it ws dwarfed by the absolutely classic 'Chemical
Warfare'. This was, for me, the highlight of the show. From the response of my fellow balcony inmates
I guess I wasn't alone.
The band leave the stage, and thankfully don't take an extended break before the opening strains of 'South
of Heaven' blast out. If you were to pick three Slayer tracks to see live, you couldn't go far wrong with
the trio that they hit us with here, culminating in the awesome 'Angel of Death'.
South of Heaven
Silent Scream
Angel of Death
Given Tom Araya's recent health problems, and the fact he was clearly wanting to headbang but couldn't,
this may be the last full UK tour that Slayer do. They're playing Sonisphere next month so if you can
you should get there and see them.
If it is their last UK tour, what a way to go out...
