Quite unlike the recent and forthcoming reunion concerts of The Police, Genesis, and Van Halen, Slayer's sold-out performance was no career-resuscitating punt, but rather business as usual for a band that never broke up. In support of their eighth major release, Christ Illusion (American 2006), Tom Araya, Jeff Hannemann, Kerry King (chains and all), and Dave Lombardo played over 75 minutes of the devil's music for the assembled faithful.

Amidst swirling red mist were the pumping fists, kicking legs and general mayhem you would expect from a Slayer concert. But it wasn't all brutality. No chance! We even witnessed a tender moment when an athletic security guard poured water from a bottle down the throat of a drunk and exhausted concertgoer. So, come to think of it, maybe it is the love after all that keeps Slayer audiences returning long after the latest trends have expired and Phil Collins and Sting have both lost their hair. - Damien Neva

Photos: Damien Neva