Slayer
Megadeth
Testament
Chevrolet Theatre
Wallingford, Connecticut
August 16, 2010
Tony Pijar
The aptly titled American Carnage Tour hit Connecticut with two of the ‘big four’ ultimately laying waste to the Chevrolet Theatre. However, I must say that openers, Testament, gave the co-headliners a run for their money! Chuck Billy and his veteran Bay Area Bangers certainly warmed up the crowd and then some. I was astounded their boundless energy; truly a sight to see. They opened with “For the Glory of” and proceeded to whip through their hits including “The New Order” and “Trial by Fire,” both of which are thrash classics. They closed with the title track of their latest album, “The Formation of Damnation.” Guitraist Alex Skolnick was exemplary throughout, as was drummer Paul Bostaph. A class act!
Dave Mustaine is in a much better place these days and it showed. The ‘new’ Megadeth fired on all sixes from the beginning; really no let up throughout their set. In addition to Shawn Drover and the latest Mega-guitar shredder Chris Broderick, bassist Dave Ellefson is back in his rightful place and all is good again. Mustaine led his band through the entire “Rust in Peace” album. “Holy Wars,” “Hangar 18,” “Take no Prisoners,” etc, blitzed by. Broderick and Mustaine traded breakneck leads at a frenetic pace and, upon reflection, no one really comes that close to their precise, technically superb playing – utterly brilliant (I would rate Death Angel in the same ballpark though). Ellefson seemed as happy as a clam and Drover remains a powerhouse of a drummer. Interestingly, Mustaine didn’t say a word until the “Rust in Peace” set was completed, and at that point all he menacingly growled was, “And that was the “Rust in Peace” album.” Newie, “Head Crusher,” “A Tout Le Monde”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Trust” and “Peace Sells…but who’s Buying” concluded a great set. It’s too bad they didn’t play more from “Endgames” which is arguably the best album they’ve done since “Rust in Peace.” And I wish they would have dusted off something from the seminal “Killing is my Business” as well.
Slayer, too, was brilliant, but not in the same way as Megadeth. They pulverized from the onset with a layer of crashing riffs, Tom Araya’s threatening, ominous voice was ever present, and a relentless, mayhemic sound that overpowered the audience quite likely shattered many an eardrum! “War Painted Blood,” “Hate Worldwide,” and “War Ensemble” whipped by as Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman stalked and commandeered the stage. And what else can be said about the legendary Dave Lombardo on the skins! “Seasons of the Abyss” closed the main set and the encores were, as always, brutally amazing with one thrash classic after another slaying the audience with “South of Heaven” “Reign in Blood”, “”Aggressive Perfector”, and “Angel of Death.”
The crowd left the Chevrolet Theatre sweat-soaked and exhausted looking as though they had just gone 12 rounds with Joe Frazier. An amazing three plus hours of classic Bay area thrash!
