#One of the best non-background designs in the entire show is top tier stuff

[unchained-hound]

This is a tiny detail from Stolas' character design that I just fucking love.

The Stolas (Or Stolos if you like being wrong) from the Lemegeton has a very silly design, made even more ridiculous by the fucking crown.

And in Helluva Boss, not only did they utilize his most iconic features (the long legs, the owl head, the fact that he teaches Astronomy and Botanic), but they made the fucking crown even more ridiculous by turning it into a top hat too!!

This guy is such a massive fucking dork!! man I love him.

[moleofmetal]

Gig Reviews:  Slayer at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow

https://www.facebook.com/events/1019532071549468/

So earlier this year thrash metal legends and personal favourite band of mine Slayer have announced their farewell and final tour, with the last UK date of the tour falling on Scottish soil. I had to get my thrashing arse to this to pay my respects to these titans, who are first of the big 4 to call it quits (if you ignore Megadeth's brief split in 2002-04, that is). Few bands have had as deep an impact on my music taste than Slayer so this was going to be a bittersweet night of top-tier metal! 

Let's get right stuck into how it went: Playing as the first ever true Death metal band to rock the SSE Hydro, is the mighty Obituary are the first band on in this enormous venue. Starting with “Redneck Stomp” instrumental kicking of the death metal effectively like a grand hype track. Now being the disorganised-self I got my tickets late, so had a seated ticket. This gave me quite a distant view! Being row 3 from the back of the top tier of the Hydro. Feeling miles back and disconnected from the action somewhat while sipping the very expensive pints, it was a hard sell to get me fully invested. But when John Tardy appeared dragging the mic-stand like a heavy axe or hammer, and his distinct vocal growls travelled far and wide in the semi-gloom, it lifted my mood enormously. Before I knew it I was sit-moshing and headbanging as if pulled closer by the sound.

Obituary is a top level act and is certainly no slouches when it comes to hitting the correct death metal sensory areas in my brain. Although they did get little blurry as the set went on, with a mashed set of old classics and new material that had the right amount of fast thrashers and slow brooding moments in a Death metal fog, that made for some wicked listening. [8/10]

Up next and coming from the bottom end of the “big 4 of thrash metal” was Anthrax, playing as the kings among the living in Glasgow. The got a great response from the old and new tracks they played. They obviously love it in Glasgow, and Glasgow loved them back. A bold performance and form they got the whole hall in great spirits, with songs like “Antisocial” and “Indians” real highlights, but what most boosted my night was being able to get much more stuck in! As during the gaps between the bands I was able to score a reasonable priced standing ticket from some super awesome bloke outside the gig, and leaping at this chance it kicked forth into Anthrax head first, abandoning my perched seats above for the rest of the night.

The presence onstage and energy from the crowd was something approaching magical with pretty much everyone moving to their beat, or at least on their feet even at the back (where my seat was) for their show. With experienced and battle-hardened veteran status, there is very little to criticise here in this performance, that was a blast of fun thrash that left us less in want.[8/10]

Probably the most polarising (in some circles anyway) band on the bill groove metalcore icons Lamb Of God was up next on a stage that looked like a huge set of stairs. Not sure what the stage designer was thinking there. Now Lamb Of God to me is a band that sits firmly in “meh” section of my brain, I don't mind them, and they do have some wicked set pieces, but have never done anything for me bar being an average to “good” heavy band to kill a bit of time with. Being a fan of both hardcore bands as well as the metal and having a “mixed” background in heavy music, I definitely not offended by their sound as some, but It was going to be an uphill battle for Randy Blythe and Co to keep my focus for their entire set.

They did a tooth smashing job though! Their energy was at a new level for the night. Their extremely mosh-friendly breakdowns and groove stirred my soul effortlessly and it was hard not to feel something in the madness. Indeed their tunes were enough to get any blood hungry pit troll fired up and ready to burst some bastard.  Myself they certainly boosted my flagging energy levels a bit, with the chunkiness of pit happy number live “Walk with me in hell” inspiring a humongous circle pit! This was enough to get edging in towards the pit without meaning to. A lot of fun and functional metal to be had here that I feel kind of bad for not getting stuck in a bit earlier. [8/10]

Epic and random loud shouts of “SSSSSSSLLLLLLAAAAAYYYYEEERRRR!!!” were the mantra of the crowd for the whole night, but the time was almost upon us. Now for the main event, the monsters Slayer take the stage! A band that needs no introduction but gave us one anyway, in the first track “Delusions of Saviour”  breaking into “Repentless” thunderously. Below the pit immediately erupted without delay, and was a meat-grinder massacre of bloodshed with a tightly packed crowd in no time. The movement became quickly limited as the mist of sweat and blood filled the air, left most to just stand and headbang!

All the classics played from “Dead Skin mask” (the first slayer track I ever heard by the way) to “Hell Awaits” ripped forth complete with chaotic solos and neck breaking metal! Playing something from almost all their albums (Diablos in musica album excluded), Undisputed attitude was skipped too but the punk air  and speed of “Dittohead” did more than a cheap cover track could ever do. Quickly fired out songs left little room between one to next keep the thrash non-stop, even putting out the more violent songs like “Payback” that must of gotten at least someone hurt with its fury. Neck breaking stuff! 

A great stage show was all around featuring long flames spat out into inverted crossed and pentagrams, while on stage, the imagery we all know was there too. Metal pentagram eagles, swords and all the imperialistic regalia was present and looking fucking awesome! Who ever designed the set deserves a medal for their work. Fantastic job!

The upfront line-up (l to r) Gary Holt, Tom Araya,& Kerry King, did not really move too much or switch sides for the most part. So not the most energetic of stage presences, But this is Fucking SLAYER! the musics energy is for one direction only! Forwards to the crowd! Tom Araya’s the happiest man in metal (or thrash metals Santa) vocals at times missed a few bits in the lyrics, getting absorbed by the moment or catching breath, letting the crowd or the strong reverb fill in the gaps at times. This bothered no one however though as caught up in a sea of bodies and thrashing heads.

Before we all knew it was time for “Angel of Death” and the end of the show. With an air of heaviness in the heart as we all sang out and rejoiced for what many of us knew was going to be the last feasible time.

Now I'm definitely a cynic when it comes to bands doing any kind of farewell or “final” tour as a cheap way of boosting sales, but if this is the true the end of Slayer as a live act in this setting (a festival tour is to follow into 2019), this is the best way to sign off! An amazing gig for everyone to remember them by. They will surely be missed by a lot of people.  Although the only, i mean “only” way they could have made it better is if this with the true Classic Line-up: if the amazing Dave Lambardo was back behind the kit for old time sake, and they managed to somehow managed to resurrect the awesome Jeff Hanneman. That being not possible in this reality we got the best we could! What a fucking Show!  [9/10]

I find it almost impossible to get my feeling truly across of what Slayer has meant to me in my life. They are probably the reason I love metal so much, they were one of the first bands I properly got into and has a led my music life further down the path of extreme metal than any other. I am grateful to my toes for all that is Slayer and will forever be glad I got to see them live this one last time.  

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