Satan's House Band Soon To Make Their Return: Slayer Are Nearly Back In The UK

And to think, some of us really did believe that Slayer were done. The Devil's own house band are making an unholy return to our shores, with all the fire and brimstone in tow we would expect. Playing two headline shows - one in Cardiff on the third of July, and one in London on the sixth of July - as well as playing the legendary Black Sabbath send off show on the fifth of July. Rocking up with a stupendously strong supporting lineup, the thrash metal icons are not here to mess about.

With five amazing bands playing beneath the writers of ‘Reign In Blood’, arguably metal’s greatest release, the show will be nothing if not spectacular. Neckbreakker are the least known band on the bill, but released a killer debut last year (and you can read our review of it here), and are certainly as prepared as they could ever be to blast some stages into submission via their pummelling brand of death metal. If you were thinking about rocking up late, think again.

Whilst the opener might not be the largest band going, Hatebreed should need absolutely no invitation. Even after going for 30 years or so, they’re still one of hardcores most enjoyable live acts, and have some of the meanest riffs and hardest breakdowns going, peppered throughout their healthy discography. With hits like ‘I WIll Be Heard’ and ‘To The Threshold’, as well as an extortionate number of lesser-known but still more than potent bangers, their set will not be calm and it will not be quiet.

Speaking of thrash legends, Slayer have brought back one of the bands they took around the world on their supposed ‘final tour’ in 2018/19 - Anthrax! The NYC thrashers are one of the other members of thrash’s ‘Big Four’, and are still incredibly popular due to songs like ‘Got The Time’, ‘Caught In A Mosh’, and ‘Madhouse’. With a slight tinge of crossover stylings to be found within their sound, their set is sure to be full of singalongs, moshpits and fun.

Possibly the most left-field inclusion on the list is Mastodon, the progressive metallers from Atlanta. Incorporating sounds as disparate as stoner and sludge, hardcore, death metal, psychedelia and even moments of jazz, the band write much more than just songs - their albums are revered for their complexity, storytelling and impressive development of sound. That is not to say though that they can’t do ‘heavy’ well - their heavier influences cn express themselves incredibly potently at times, and tracks like ‘Blood and Thunder’ or ‘The Motherload’ will no doubt be received wonderfully.

The final support act before the kings of heaviness are the vikings of metal themselves, Amon Amarth. The beer-quaffing horde shall maraud their way onto the stage with energy aplenty, and doubtless a myriad of pyrotechnics too! With a viking helm drum riser, Mjolner - Thor’s hammer - and even Jormungandr, the great world snake, making an appearance, it will be of no surprise to anybody when ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’, ‘Destroyer Of The Universe’ and ‘Raise Your Horns’ are chanted as loudly as anything else on the night.

Whilst Slayer are an incomparable band, the supporting lineup they’ve managed to collate is one of the most impressive days of music on one stage that we’ve seen in a very long time. The six different acts will all be doing their best to have the widest circle pit, the largest wall of death, the wildest mosh pit, and no doubt the most engaged crowd, so any attendees - from the very largest Slayer fan to the young child seeing their very first show - are in for a day to remember.

Words: Jake Longhurst