Slayer – November 8, 2013 – The Myth – Saint Paul, MN

Written by Tracy Hansen.  Photography by RKH Images.

The Myth presents Slayer.

The heaviest of the original four is at The Myth in Maplewood on November 8, 2013.  The original four, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth reigned supreme during the 1980s and their fans are not only still supporting them, but growing as well.  As one nears the club, they can hear the chants of “Slayer, Slayer!” in the parking lot.  There is a line wrapped around the club, as everyone wants to ensure they are as close to the front of the stage as possible.

The show begins with 4ARM, a band from Melbourne, Australia.  They are followed by Gojira, a French death metal band with ties to the Midwest.  Drummer, Mario Duplantier’s mother was born in the Midwest, though the state varies from Minnesota to Wisconsin, depending on where he is seen.  Both opening bands make for a grand entrance for Slayer, a band they have all admired in the past.

Slayer begins the show with “Hell Awaits” and “The Antichrist”.  The fans in the mosh pit, who got warmed up by the previous two bands, are in full force now.  They tear through one another song after song.  When it comes to crazy mosh pits, Slayer pits rank high on the list, so one needs to know what they are doing within one.

Regardless of the overall stereotype of heavy metal fans being not the nicest of people, the audience is fantastic that night.  Those in the pit help one another when they fall.  The ones upstairs and in the bar are conversational about all things music and more.  As Slayer closes out with “South of Heaven” and the infamous “Angel of Death”, the crowd is eager for the next party and leaves The Myth happy, still chanting the band’s name.

Set List: Hell Awaits, The Antichrist, Necrophiliac, Mandatory Suicide, Captor of Sin, War Ensemble, Post Mortem, Alter of Sacrifice, Jesus Saves, At Dawn They Sleep, Die by the Sword, Spirit in Black, Hallowed Point, Seasons in the Abyss, Strike of the Beast, Dead Skin Mask, Raining Blood, Black Magic, South of Heaven, Angel of Death