TORONTO - Some people call Slayer the kings of thrash metal. Or death metal, black metal — even extreme metal.

Whatever you want to call them, it’s definitely hard core. And very, very loud, as evidenced by the band’s performance last night at the Molson Amphitheatre, as part of The Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching To The Perverted.

The crowd (a sea of black clothing with an overwhelming stench of sweat and booze) roared and devil-horned as the original four members — guitarist Jeff Hanneman, guitarist Kerry King, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo — took to the stage, opening with crowd favourite, South Of Heaven.

Brutal is an understatement.

Flanked by two huge inverted crosses and awash in flashing red-and-white light and video-projected war-and-gore imagery, the headliners hammered out an uncompromising set of fervently heart-pounding signature Slayer offerings.

These guys are markedly tight musicians with impeccable timing — no small feat for their furiously fast tempos. Not surprising either, given that they’ve been doing this for 25 years.

Serious Slayer fans were likely not disappointed with the set list, which consisted of mainly old favourites, including Dead Skin Mask, War Ensemble, Seasons Of The Abyss and Mandatory Suicide, which Araya predictably dedicated to American soldiers in Iraq.

“I only hope they make it home safely,” he said. “But you guys need to be aware of something — there’s a price for peace. And you enjoy your freedom, right?”

The only new song they played, from their upcoming album, Christ Illusion (their first full-length since 1990’s Seasons In The Abyss to include all four original members), was Cult.

“We’re gonna play a new song for you — it’s a song about organized religion,” said Araya, who was promptly met with a disagreeable, jeering roar. “Kind of like what we’ve done here. We’ve organized here together and created this unholy alliance so you could come and celebrate with us.”

The shocking volume and violent speed of metal’s sovereign kings, coupled with lyrical content that touches on serial killers, the Holocaust, Satan and warfare, render Slayer obviously not for the faint of heart.

Thankfully, there didn’t appear to be any faint hearts anywhere near the amphitheatre last night.