Lamb of God / O2 Academy / Bristol
Back to the O2 Academy in Bristol for this one, and something special for fans of thrash metal. First up on stage were Municipal Waste. Funnily enough it was only about four months ago since I last saw them at the O2 when they were supporting Anthrax ! On that occasion, they stayed around after and played a secret show at the Golden Lion on Gloucester Road the following night. They were really good, but I have to say tonight, they excelled. It was great to see a healthy sized crowd in for the first band and they starting off with Demoralizer Tony Foresta bouncing out on to the stage greeting the large crowd with ‘shit it’s cold in here’. He wasn’t wrong, it wasn’t much warner than outside lol. As the crowd grew, and the mosh started, it soon warmed up !
Guitarist Ryan Waste introduces Breathe Grease as Tony catches his breathe, and it’s a full on heavy, fast assault on the eardrums of hardcore thrash.
The crowd are loving it, and Tony walked off the stage, reappearing with a bin, which is ceremonially lobbed out into the crowd, rubbish scattering everywhere, causing the security o scurry round, probably to find anything not tied down, and quickly tie it down lol The bin is carried aloft over the crowd and politely returned to the pit.
The track The Thrashin’ of the Christ is dedicated to Kreator as bass player Philip Hall (Land-Phil) helping out on the vocals. Poison the Preacher really sees the audience getting fully into it, with fist pumps and Tony introduces Wave of Death with a call for the crowd to get in the air and surf. For one song, the security in the pit didn’t know what hit them as body after body was carried forward.
I loved the set. Municipal Waste were on fire and the sense of fun was obvious. As we got to the final track Born to Party the crowd were chanting the lyrics back ‘Municipal Waste’s gonna fuck you up!”.
Just stunning fun and the perfect start for what’s to come.
Set List
Demoralizer
Breathe Grease
Mind Eraser
The Thrashin’ Of The Christ
Poison The Preacher
Grave Dive
You’re Cut Off
Sadistic Magician
Slime And Punishment
Headbanger Face Rip
High Speed Steel
Wave Of Death
Born To Party
The place was pretty packed now as the lights dimmed and Kreator hit the stage. Formed way back in 1982 in Essen Germany, Kreator are legends on the thrash metal scene. Maybe not having some of the wider appeal of the big name American bands such as Anthrax and Pantera they have a large following for their old school hardcore thrash style.
And that sense of togetherness with their audience is evident, as at every opportunity singer Miland “Mille” Petrozza raises his arms with double horns as he speaks to the crowd and introduces each song. The atmosphere is off the charts and the mosh pit swarms round the room as one big mass and as Enemy of God kicks in, it just energizes the audience even more.
One of the tracks of the whole night was Satan Is Real introduced by a chiming bell, and has the crowd shouting along to the lyrics, and chanting the bands name whenever they can. This one has a great guitar solo by Sami Yli-Sirniö in the middle.
Miland picks up a flagpole from the side of the stage and introduces Flag of Hate getting the audience to split and leads them in a chant battle, waving the flag, and as Violent Revolution is introduced, two spear wielding guard come onto the stage to welcome in the heavy doom laiden track. Before we know it, we get to the final track of the set Pleasure to Kill which is a pure, full on thrash-fest, as the guitars blaze out riff after ferocious riff and Jürgen Reil’s thrashes out the rhythm on his kit. The crowd launch into one final swirling circle pit.
Kreator were incredible, and despite how long they’ve been going, it’s clear they are still on top of their game as they delivered a beast of a set, and long may that continue.
Set List
Hate Über Alles
Hail To The Hordes
Awakening Of The Gods
Enemy Of God
Phobia
Satan Is Real
Hordes Of Chaos
666 – World Divided
Flag Of Hate
Violent Revolution
Pleasure To Kill
As the O2 is plunged into darkness one last time, Richmond Virginia’s Lamb Of God walk out to huge shouts and devil horns raised high from the sell out crowd. Formed back in 1994 (initially as Burn the Priest) Lamb of God have been a force to be reckoned with on the thrash metal scene.
Memento Mori starts with a quiet almost spoken word intro before the noise hits us with full force, and Randy Bythe’s wet dreadlocked hair starts to flair in the air. Right from the off, the crowd are singing and screaming along, and the circle pit is in full flow and as the crowd are invited to Take a Walk With Me In Hell it feels like the whole floor is moving as one.
The intensity of the sound is incredible, and you can feel the bass through the floor, but it remains clear throughout. Randy’s energy levels never drop from start to finish as he struts round the stage, foot up on the monitors, head down, ready for another signature (and impressive) dreadlock flick.
Resurrection Man has the band working even harder, pounding out the riffs and beats. This show has been a long time coming, delayed multiple times, and you can almost feel the sense of release that we’re finally here. The fierce nature of the set continues with Ditch with Randy swirling his mic round in the air.
Mid way through and Now You’ve Got Something to Die For and Contractor are hitting another level of intensity pummelling my ears and the crowd respond, with the largest number of surfers coming over into the pit. Security have definitely earnt they money tonight !
Omerta gives up a moment to pause and grab a quick gulp of air, as the stage darkens and equipment is re-tuned and the soft words introduce the track as the fans deliver in unison. This one has a slower riff to it, ready for the final set onslaught.
512 is dedicated to one of the security staff. Later on someone told me of an online video on YouTube where security stopped him at Bloodstock to prevent him accessing the stage to be told he was in the band. Apologising he had nicely told her she was doing a great job lol !
As we get towards the end of the set Laid to Rest delivers another crushing, intense dose of metal before we get to the last number Redneck released in 2006 and one of their greatest tracks.
As the band leave the stage to huge shouts and cheers, the guitars are still ringing in my ears. Walking back to the hotel I reflect on the show. Municipal Waste are fast being one of my favourite metal bands to see live, Kreator delivered a near perfect old school thrash lesson, and Lamb of God were intense delivering a rock solid performance. I’m not sure you can experience a better line up. It’s one I’m going to remember for some time !
Set List
Memento Mori
Ruin
Walk With Me In Hell
Resurrection Man#Ditch
Now You’ve Got Something To Die For
Contractor
Omerta
Omens
11th Hour
512
Vigil
Laid To Rest
Redneck
