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LONDON, Ont. - The American speed metal monsters at the John Labatt Centre played it fast and furious last night.
Slayer hit the stage to chants of "Slay-er, Slay-er, Slay-er" in the arena's RBC Theatre.
Ninety minutes later, frontman Tom Araya, his bandmates and about 2,300 metal fans went into the night after wailing "Angel of Death, Angel of Death."
The California rock head-liners were making a first London appearance on the tour supporting the Grammy-nominated Christ Illusion (Warner).
Araya, the singer and bassist, and his bandmates -- guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman and drummer Dave Lombardo, back in the lineup for the first time in years -- opened with 2001's Disciple and 1990's War Ensemble.
Then it was time for Jihad, from Christ Illusion.
Slayer's method isn't subtle. But the basic formula -- crank up the guitars to a punk-rock blitz, turn up the volume and let Araya be Araya on bass and vocals -- did a helluva job last night.
King and Hanneman took turns disappearing into the stage fog and then emerging to fire off more blazing riffs and licks.
Lombardo kept the pace and steadied Slayer all night.
There were frequent blackout breaks and pauses in the 90-minute show. They were designed to let Araya bask in the approval of the rock-and-roll-signing crowd. The frontman said thanks many times and also showed off a dry sense of humour.
After a long bout of spectacular hair-flipping, Araya stood quietly for a moment, accepting the cheers and yells from the fans pressing up to the stage barrier on the general admission, standing-room floor.
After playing the prophet for a minute, he introduced Cult. It's the song from the new CD that says "Religion's obscene, religion's a whore" and has the "Christ illusion" reference and a quick "six six six" to show the Satan licks are still going 20 years after Slayer first rolled to metal stardom in the 1980s with a lot of Satan references and those blazing tempos.
In the same satirical, biting mode, Araya later called out: "Do you want to die?"
Not surprisingly -- given the demonic Christ Illusion cover backdrop behind the band, the deafening noise and Slayer's mockingly dark side appeal -- there seemed to be some takers.
"I guess you guys will miss the rest of the show," Araya said before launching into Post Mortem from 1986's breakthrough Reign in Blood.
U.S. metal band Unearth was also on the bill last night, but you'll just have to take my word that they were good.
Right now, it's more important to report that London metal band Thine Eyes Bleed impressed in the opening slot. Its lineup includes bassist Johnny Araya, Tom's brother, but it's clear that's not the reason Slayer took the London rockers through the U.S., Europe and then added Thine Eyes Bleed for three Canadian dates. (The Araya connection didn't seem to get mentioned).
"Tonight is a special night. We would like to welcome Slayer for the first . . . time," Thine Eyes Bleed frontman Justin Wolfe shouted to cheers.
The local heroes blitzed through their 30-minute opening slot with drummer Darryl Stephens driving into the next song after pausing just seconds. Flanking Johnny Araya and Wolfe were guitarists Jeff Phillips and James Reid, who showed all those gigs with Slayer have helped make Bleed's furious attack the best metal around town.
If you don't believe that, Wolfe has a date for you -- the band's March 2 gig at the Salt Lounge in downtown London. Thine Eyes Bleed earned that plug, earned the shot and the cheers last night.