Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Exodus Electrifies Hard Rock

hard-hitting CONCERT IN SOLD OUT VENUE

ABOVE VIDEO: Slayer Performs “In The Abyss,” one of their most famous songs, with over four million plays on YouTube.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Just looking at this show’s line-up is daunting. If you don’t feel the need get your neck brace out at the mere mention of these three acts in the same place at once, well, something’s wrong.

Exodus, Bay area thrash act with a solid pedigree and 30-plus years of experience, got this party started. With a terse, but hard-hitting set, they tore through new songs from their excellent new release, “Blood In, Blood Out,” as well as classic numbers like “The Toxic Waltz.”

As the show wound down, guitarist Lee Altus brought a young fan onstage, put flying V around his neck, and was assisted with the ending. Singer Steve “Zetro” Souza proclaimed, “This is the future of Metal!” Exodus performed a devastating set, and proved to be a class act.

Suicidal Tendencies were up next and the storied band from Venice, Calif. were unstoppable. Still fronted by founding member Mike Muir, he could not be contained. Muir moves like a middleweight boxer wired on pure rage, topped off with Red Bull. Kicking off with “You Can’t Bring Me Down,” the band never eased up.

Their’s was a set that spanned their funk, metal, and thankfully included material from the bands seminal first release. “Subliminal” was bandied out, and “I Saw Your Mommy” was a highlight. Muir and company show no sign of slowing down, easing up or mellowing, thankfully.

Slayer, one of the big four, the one who never received any notable radio airplay of any type, took the stage and reminded everyone why they deserve their legendary status. With one unrelentingly brutal song after another, Slayer delivered 100 minutes of neck-snapping, merciless and uncompromising metal.

The stage was flanked by four inverted crosses bathed in red lights and shrouded in fog as they took the stage to a sold out venue. “Hell Awaits,” “The Antichrist,” War Ensemble,” and “Raining Blood” filled the intense set.

Guitarist Gary Holt did double duty, having first performed with Exodus, and now filling the role of the late Jeff Hanniman. He and Kerry King effortlessly exchanged lightning fast leads. The show closed with the band’s logo being replaced with Hanniman’s Heineken logo, as Slayer wrapped up with “Angel of Death” and “South of Heaven.”

Artists currently on the downside trajectory of their careers who gripe about a lack of mainstream media attention could stand to learn a thing or two here. This is what great artists do. They get out and work. When they perform, they deliver. Every. Single. Time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. Alberto Rivera has attended over 1,000 shows. He is in the possession of an absurd musical collection dating back 1923.

He has performed close to 1,000 shows or so, in a variety of styles from punk and pop, to jam bands and contemporary christian, as well as some others not easily defined.

So if you think he’s naive or uninformed when it comes to his musical opinions, you’re probably right. And he wants you to go ahead and tell him he has no idea what he’s talking about.

To reach Rivera email him at imdaeditor@gmail.com

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