This was only the second concert I'd ever attended and the first Slayer show, so at first I was kinda nervous and shit. The show started at like 8:30, opening band was a band called System of a Down. They're signed to the same label as Slayer (American), so I'm guessing that's the only reason why those poor saps would be included in the tour. Well they sucked, they sucked horribly. They were a mix of gay Korn metal mixed with hardcore. This was vile shit, vocalist looked like some hasidic jew on drugs while the guitarist looked like he just finished sucking 12 cocks. Luckily it was only a 20 minute set but that gave them enough time to spew out 5 or 6 of their nastiness.

It took another 20 minutes before the next band came on and they were almost as disgusting as their predecessors. Clutch, wow did these asshole suck! While some jerk next to me was creaming his pants in anticipation, I was holding my stomach to keep from gagging. Their style was much like S.O.A.D., and I heard their vocalist is a major fudge packer. His vocals didn't fit in with the shit music, sounded like talking while ripping a load of farts. Only a 20 minute set, so not much of a chance for them to give off more of their pungent stench or their bad music.

Took another 30 minutes before Slayer came on. The friend who came with me was quickly swept back in the introduction of Hell Awaits, poor bastard only weighs 110 lbs. The acoustics were great at the plaza, with a set of monster speakers on each side of the stage. While I watched kids jump from a balcony 20 feet up onto the hard tiled floor below. Most people didn't feel like catching the poor bastards, so they just let them hit the floor. Nobody really cared, as they were there to have a good time and not to get hurt by some jack-ass flying down upon them. The pit at this thing was a circle with a 75 feet diameter and it was occuppied mostly by 30-50 year old guys!! They played all their best songs in my opinion, leaving out little and leaving a good taste in any Slayer fan's mouth.

After the opening Hell Awaits, they churned out Spirit in Black and after that Tom Araya screamed out WAR ENSEMBLE (in his amazning fashion) turning the crowd into pure mayhem while unleashing one of the true fan favorites. Stain of Mind was due next and it was good to hear the first single of their new album. South of Heaven ripped its way through the crowd next, followed by a short break. When all of a sudden the opening chords of Rain in Blood were played and it's back to all out hell. Slayer basically played songs 4-7 off Decade of Aggression all in a row, like a bliztkrieg going from Raining Blood, Altar of Sacrafice and then Jesus Saves.

For all their classic fans, came Captor of Sin and Black Magic. For his next trick, Araya recited his usual opener to Dead Skin Mask which was a fan favorite of metal-chicks there. "We're gonna take you back to Show No Mercy now. They say if you must live by the sword...then you shall Die By The Sword!!" 'Nuff said and yet another timeless classic was done. Followed up by Death's Head, another good track of Diabolus in Musica. Seconds after they played one of my all-time favorites in Chemical Warfare. Followed by another break lasting a few minutes, yet after another one of my favorites Mandatory Suicide was spewed forth.

By that time, I was dead tired after fighting to stay alive for over an hour when the first few seconds of Angel Of Death kicked in and the entire place turned into a pit. Araya's vocals were very distinct even when you're shoving 6 people off you as he tells the tales of the Nazi reign. I stuck around till the band was done chucking the usual souveniers into the crowd, unfortunately I was too far back to get my hands on anything. So I left the place with only the tour posters I had taken off the walls.

It was a great show, didn't matter how much the openers sucked. Slayer played well and a good time was had by all, so it ruled.