The Last Leg of Slayer’s Farewell Tour Rolls Through New England

The mighty gods of metal, Slayer, announced early in 2018 that they would be ending their touring career and they are certainly going out with a bang! Their epic nearly two year tour finishes at the end of November but they are not fading out quietly. The whole tour has been loaded with an amazing array of support acts. Prior legs have seen the likes of Anthrax, Lamb of God, Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse and others heavy hitters. This leg is no exception and hosted an all star line-up. Music Madness caught up with the tour at their stop at Springfield, Massachusetts’ Mass Mutual Center.

Starting the night off was Philip H Anselmo & The Illegals. Philip is best known for his time as lead singer of the powerhouse metal band Pantera. He was the band’s frontman from 1986 until the band’s demise in 2003. Anselmo was brought into Pantera to give them a heavier sound and he’s still proving why they did. As Anselmo prowled the stage and growled out a set full of Pantera songs, his band showed they were up to the task at hand and backed him admirably. Anselmo continually called for the traditional circle pit and the crowd obliged again and again. Anselmo seemed genuinely appreciative of the fact that folks came early to see his band’s set. It was no surprise that they came out early as Philip H Anselmo & The Illegals is a band that is not to be missed!

Next up was Chicago’s industrial metal pioneers, Ministry. Founded as a synth pop band in 1981 by lead singer Al Jourgensen, Ministry quickly morphed into the hard hitting industrial band they are known as. Many credit Ministry as the pioneers of the industrial metal revolution. They have earned 6 Grammy award nominations because of their innovative sound. Jourgensen had a microphone stand made of a light up cross reminiscent of a giant 50’s trashy religious curio. The brightly lit mic stand acted as a pulpit as he “preached” to the crowd. The Cuban born frontman moved about the stage with an energy that belied his age of 61. The latest incarnation of the band was tight and as good or better than any Ministry line up ever. They played a set that was a good cross section of Ministry’s history with every song being a highlight.

California’s Primus was next on the bill. At first it seemed odd to have Primus take the stage right before Slayer. The set started off on the slow side but the audience quickly warmed up to the quirkiness of the band. Before you knew it, the mosh pit was in full force and people were swaying and dancing throughout the arena. Unlike many bands today, Primus is a visually minimalist band. The stage was mostly dark as the band let the music do the entertaining for the evening with various scenes adorning the video screens behind them. The musicianship of the band easily what made them fit into this bill. Les Claypool has a funky bass style that is captivating yet it makes you want to move. Ler LaLonde’s guitar work as well as Tim Alexander’s drumming were equally unconventional as well as mesmerizing.

Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for…. Slayer hit the stage! Slayer has made some of the most brutal, breathtakingly aggressive, and all-hell’s-breaking-loose music ever created. They are one of the acts other metal bands are measured against and aspire to be. The band is a member of “The Big Four” along with, Metallica, Megadeath, and Anthrax. They are the bands that defined the thrash metal genre and will forever be remembered for their accomplishments in music history. The band has released 12 studio albums along with three live recordings. Five Grammy nominations, two Grammy awards, and four gold albums in the US proves they are truly worthy of the grand send off that this tour has become.

Frontman Tom Araya wielded his bass stoically as he stood center stage. Guitarists Kerry King adorned with his familiar chains and Gary Holt with his patch covered vest marched around the stage switching places from time to time trying to give both sides of the venue good views of themselves. Paul Bostaph held down the rhythm section on drums along with Araya. The stage backdrop was covered with images depicting things from Christ to images relating to the dead to Satanic images. Flames shooting upwards from the floor adding to the hellish atmosphere. It was a metal fan’s paradise. A twenty song set is normally enough to satisfy most fans of any band. However, this night it seemed a tease. With most folks thinking this might be the last time they see these metal icons perform live, no one wanted the night to end.

If this does prove to be the final run of Slayer shows, no one can say they mailed in their last tour. The Who is still performing 38 years after their first farewell tour so die hard fans are hoping for the best and are never saying never.