Nobody ever comes to Ottawa, where I live, so if you are a metal fan you have to go to Montreal or Toronto. My fellow slayer-head and I hit Montreal at about 5:30pm went straight to the venue to check out the spot. Doors opened at 7:00pm but the line-up was already started - since they were the fucking maniacs set to go into the pit - we had time to hit a local bar and chug several tasty beverages as preparation. The metal-heads were in full swing and as we opened the bar door we were hit by a very loud "War Ensemble" coming from the bar - talk about fucking foreshadowing of things to come!!!

6:30pm we hit the show - got in by 7:10pm, had a couple of beers then first up was an unknown band - Diecast I think, they were OK but uninspired, next was Hatebreed - they were better, "Proven" and "Betrayed by Life" were pretty fucking good. Next up of course were the "MASTERS" it was "Darkness of Christ" that hit us and then "Disciple" nearly ripped the fucking roof off the building with the crowd and Tom screaming in unison "God hates Us All"!!!!!

Next up was WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ENSEMBLE!!!! Which nearly started a riot - the pit looked like a rolling sea of bodies that threatened to overtake the stage, it behaved like a black hole that seemed to absorb all life and force the reluctant to surf !!! After that Tom responded with a native "Merci-Beaucoup" as thanks to the crowd for the screams and howls.

Slayer then proceeded to rip through a fine selection of tunes with ridiculous energy, precision and utter mastery - being a lead-guitar player I have played the same tunes and know the endurance required to pull it off - they were simply unparalleled. Hell Awaits was a real fucking treat, but seeing Jeff and Kerry side-by-side during Die by the Sword as Tom screamed "Watch as flowers decay." and then the dual guitar harmonies (complete with perfectly synchronized head-banging!!!) that bridge into the 1st solo was the high point for me!

They kept the fucking juggernaut of metal perfection rolling, and tore through an awesome set with new high points being achieved with "Payback", "Chemical Warfare" and of course the finale to end all existence as we know it "Angel of Death".

Tom, Kerry, Jeff and Dave (yeah that's right, fucking Dave!!!!!!!!!), they blew our fucking minds - good club, good crowd, good beer and the best metal band in the fucking world - not bad for a first Slayer show!!!!!!!!!!!