As we heard before, all great things must come to an end. How you end is what matters the most. Either fading away peacefully or guns blazing, either way, the final blow that is delivered is what ultimately counts and Slayer demonstrated this to a T at Madison Square Garden during their final Campaign. 11/9/19 will be a day that will never be forgotten as Slayer, Primus, Ministry and Phil Anselmo and the Illegals left Madison Square a smoldering crater after this intense sold out show.

Opening we get Phil Anselmo and the Illegals playing Pantera classics. This is not only an intense and brutal way to open this show, but it definitely ties up loose ends from 2001. Slayer and Pantera were supposed to tour together in the fall of 2001, but the tragedy of September 11^th sadly let them to canceling this tour, only for Pantera to break up a few months later. In between that we loose the Abbott brothers. Many young metal fans who would have loved to hear Pantera live never got this opportunity, however, this was pretty damn close to it. Phil Anselmo and the Illegals delivered an 8-song killing spree of a set. Opening with Mouth for War, they instantly packed Madison Square Garden despite being the opener. They continue the momentum of brutality with Becoming and even delivered some deep cuts such as Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit and Strength Beyond Strength. The shit continued to hit the fan with the classic of Goddamn Electric and than things take a moody turn when we here the murky intro to This Love. Phil’s voice was able to slowly lead us in but when the shit kicked in and the whole venue screamed THIS LOVE, the nail was practically sealed in the coffin. After the classic, Fucking Hostile, we get the classic, Walk. The whole audience sang just as much as Phil. They turned a night at Madison Square Garden into a night at Duffs, because when that shit comes on the jukebox, everyone sings that song word for word. Last thing to say is that, sure while it was not Phil, Dime, Rex and Vince, the Illegals performed this material with much respect and integrity. Stephen, Joey, Mike and Derek were able to bring all the intensity and rage that we all know and love from Pantera while also giving it their illegal touch. Many Pantera fans were pleased and welcomed them with open arms. If there is anyway to start a big show, it is with Phil Anselmo and the Illegals. It was a great way to celebrate Slayer, Pantera and the lives of Dime and Vinny.

After a groove metal legend decimated the stage, we get the industrial legends, Ministry. Ministry is a band that has always demonstrated evolution in their sound when you compare With Sympathy, to Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste to AmeriKKKant. The lights dimmed signaling uncle Al Jourgensen is taking the stage as we get the classic New York, New York theme from The Late Show. That’s one interesting way to start the performance to say the least. Instantly, we kick right into the classic Land of Rape and Honey track, The Missing. The pure sound of Industrial Riffs and groove hits everyone in the front like a ton of bricks, and with the lights flickering to the rhythm of the riffs and something truly transfixing. Following with another track, Deity and Stigmata, halfway through, we further celebrate metal with the classic cover of Supernaut by Black Sabbath, that is one way to celebrate the art of heavy metal for sure. We knew what was being performed and everyone in Ministry nailed that cover note for note, while we got the signature voice of Al Jourgensen singing over it. Then we have to get the classics from Ministry everyone knows, we here that eerie scream, steady beat and intense riffing from Just one Fix and N.W.O. followed by another classic, Thieves. Everyone hit chanted that classic voice intro in the beginning that instantly shook everyone who was sitting in the seats. Many of us thought this was the end, since that is usually that classic song that ends every Ministry set, but NOPE!!! We get one last surprise. While it is a classic, many of us have not heard this performed live in a while, the beast known as Jesus Built my Hotrod. Ending with the biggest pit of their set, everyone most certainty Dingading Danged their Dangalong Ling Long for the final performance. Ministry has such an experimental sound to the point where they can play with just about anyone and capture the attention of anyone present. For this particular set, Ministry pulled no punches and for an 8-song set, carried a heavy momentum through all of it. Some classics from Land of Rape and Honey, a simple and catchy Sabbath cover, to some heavier tracks such as Just one Fix and Thieves, to a pleasant surprise ending with a Psalm 69 classic. Ministry was just as heavy with their sound and stage presence making this the perfect act to go along at a Slayer show.

Next we get Primus. Now think about this for a second. Look back at the Slayer farewell lineups for the past 2 years. Testament, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary. You get the idea, so now for direct support, we get Primus, a band that brings an alternative vibe to experimental and progressive rock as well as some funk, right before one of the most evil bands in existence? Well if you had any expectations that this would not be a good fit, you were dead wrong. Opening with Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers we get that signature riff style with the charismatic style of Les Claypools intense bass playing. This is when the production begins to dominate the venue as well because with their mesmerizing sound, they also had production that created a near acid trip. They turned the venue into a realm of their own. After the Seven and Frizzle Fry, we get another classic cover, not by Pantera or Black Sabbath, but RUSH!!!!! Another cover from a band that is sadly no longer with us, and there is no better band to perform a classic like Cygnus X-1 than Primus. I thought Allegaeon’s Rush cover of Subdivisions was amazing but damn they may have just taken the cake on this one. They managed to hit eras we all know and love from Primus, hitting songs from Sailing the Sea of Cheese, Frizzle Fry and Pork Soda as well as throwing in a track from their latest album, The Desaturating Seven. We also get a stint of Tales from the Punchbowl when they hit the first verse of Professor Nutterbutter’s House of Treats. Ending with Jerry was a Racecar Driver, Primus was able to bring us thrashers into their own realm vibe and sound for 12 blistering songs. They were able to give the audience in the pit a chance to catch their breath as well being that they moshed constantly for 16 songs before their set. With their fun sound, great vibe, sense of humor and trippy production, Primus was the ultimate pregame for the Hell that Awaited after them. The proved themselves that they are still here and here to stay.

At 9:25 pm, the final act of the night brings their final act to New York City, and as expected, when those lights dimmed, we here the entire audience scream SLLLLLAAAAAAYYYYERRRR FUCKING SLLAYYYERRRR! Horns were up and after we get Delusions of Saviour, and we get a quick element of suspense in the process behind that curtain. The lights flickered on and off, some fire broke through and once that curtain dropped, we kick right into a new track, Repentless. They wasted no time into kicking in with brutality rage, and intense hell. That stage began immerse us into fire and darkness. We fall immediately into a classic off South of Heaven, Mandatory Suicide and jump right back up to a more present song, World Painted Blood. The pits were opening like crazy to the point where the regular general admission was a hazard zone regardless of where you stood. We get our first track off the classic Reign in Blood followed by Hate Worldwide and War Ensemble.

Kerry and Gary were delivering us with pure intensity in the crunchy riffs and eerie soloing while Paul hit us with pure rhythm of intensity and Tom just echoed his pure voice of evil through the entire venue. After Stain of Mind, we get the classic, Disciple. Nothing was more unsettling than hearing an entire arena scream to the top of their lungs, GOD HATES US ALL!!!!!! After we get a very murky and moody turn with a slower song, When the Stillness Comes, they continue to go guns blazing with Born of Fire. We instantly knew that it was going to rain pyro as much as it was going to rain blood when they kicked into that.

When Tom instantly screamed FIRE, the fire reigned down from behind Paul, Kerry and Gary as fire was just a few feat away from Tom’s head and the audience as well. It was toasty to say the least. Things take a punky and catchy turn with their classic Payback, followed by another classic, Seasons of the Abyss.

This is when we were fully immersed into the realm of Slayer (if we weren’t there already) and they brought atmosphere and organized chaos to Madison Square Garden. It felt like we were a part of what was one of the greatest music videos in Thrash history. Next, to our surprise, we get a classic from the Haunting the Chapel era, with Chemical Warfare. The whole venue turned greener than a Type O Negative concert and combined with the fog, it felt like that we were in fact in a realm of pure toxic waste. We begin to accept the fact that the end is near, because after we get Hell Awaits as the 15^th track in their set, we take a slower turn once again giving us chills and goosebumps with South of Heaven. Once again, the crowd participation was just as memorable as Slayer’s set. Hearing the whole audience chant South of Heaven further cemented us into the realm of Slayer. With just four songs left in the set, after a nice bridge between classics and deepcuts, we get all classics for the end. Show no Mercy kicks right in and the entire general admission area was just one big moshpit at this point.

After this killing spree, the lights turn fully red and we knew what was coming next as Paul hit that floor tomb for the suspenseful intro we all know and love, RAINING BLOOOOOOOOODDDDDD!!!!!!!!! It wasn’t Tom’s vocals that made this song a classic, or Kerry or Jeff’s guitar playing, or Dave’s drumming that made this one of the most memorable songs in thrash. It was all four of these guys executing this material both in the studio and stage. The last time we heard this song live is a pure testament to that. After the classic intro of Dead Skin Mask that always has great energy and flow, we get the final track of the night, and what else could it be other than the most evil song in existence. ANGEL OF DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!! Kerry wasted no time into just kicking right into the riffs to start this song off as we heard the screams of agony and evil from Tom’s voice. By the end of this set, both Slayer and Madison Square Garden went down in history and up in flames.

As the audience walked out, you heard everyone walking out scream SLLLAAYYYYERRRRR to the top of their lungs. It was just as prevalent of a role into making this performance memorable as the performance itself.

All and all, if Slayer is coming to an end, and if this was the last time that we do see Slayer, than so be it. With a great lineup and one hell of a brutal setlist of classics and deepcuts, Slayer will always live in our darkened hearts and the intensity that was delivered that night will forever echo through New York City.

Pick up Slayer: The Repentless Killogy\m/ \m/