This was the second night of two sold out Slayer shows at Vancouver's best venue. I live in the BC Interior, so I had to drive 3 hours to get there, and was a little worried the show might be cancelled. That's what you get for bumming around this site:) When I hit my buddies house in New Westminster, I phoned the commodore to make sure the show was still on. It was. Good. Now crack a beer and head out.

We got within 3 blocks of the place and scalpers were practically begging for tickets. As soon as we got through the doors, you could hear the crowd upstairs(commodore is on the second floor) chanting: SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER! Vancouver definitely has a hardcore metal crowd, and Slayer could probably sell out 10 straight nights at a place this size. We grabbed ourselves a few ryes and went out to the floor in front of the stage to take it all in.

First up was Diecast. Not bad. Not great either. I figured if I had their CD, I could probably get into em. The crowd was downright bizzarre! There were a couple of hippies in front of me during diecast. A guy and a girl in their mid 20's. While Diecast was rippin it up, they would lower their heads and mosh away. As soon as the songs ended, they would pull out some soap and blow bubbles. Then they would kick into a mosh with the band 10 secs later. It was then I knew this night would be something special. I think I personally saw at least 200 reefers of BC's best bud light up during this first band.

Next was Hatebreed. These guys need a spoon so they can eat my ass. Talk about mediocre! They sounded like they were tryin to rip off Pantera, but it all sounded the same! Between songs the crowd response was so minimal that the singer had to resort to yelling things like "ARE YOU GUYS READY TO SEE SLAYER!!?" So everyone would freak out. I thought it was a pretty cheap way to get some applause. After a few times of this, the guy would start talking, and get drowned out with "SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER SLAY-ER"

After this we went and grabbed a few more ryes and a couple of pints. We noticed people had drawn pentagrams, and the slayer logo and "666" on the misty windows. After the drinks we got a couple of more ryes and headed to the pit.

"SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER, SLAY-ER"

The lights dimmed, the automatic doors on the windows lowered, "Darkness of Christ" started booming through the speakers. The only lights on were the flourescent ones on the stage which revealed blood splattered all over the equipment, which is when Slayer walked out and kicked into Disciple. The place went nuts. Bodies flew everywhere. We were standing next to the left speaker with an awesome view. After Disciple, the band paused while Tom just kind of smiled a pretty proud smile while the crowd broke into the familiar "SLAY-ER" chant. He said something like this:" It's nice to see you all came out here tonight. Especially all the girls. The young girls. Those one's are so good they'll make you come twice." Then they tore into War Ensemble. I couldn't help it any longer, so I launched my empty beer into the pit with my body. The rest of the show was a blur as they ripped through their regular set list, except I vaguely remember hearing "Alter of Sacrafice" There was this guy bouncing by me dancing like an Irish gnome with a beer in one hand and his fist in the air singing merrily Flesh Starts To Burn, Twist And Deform Eyes Dripping Blood Realization Of Death Transforming Of Five Toes To Two Learn The Sacred Words Of Praise, Hail Satan

After the explosive end of "Angel of Death" finished the show, Dave came out for a bow while the crowd howled for more. But that was it. We both agreed on the way out that was the best crowd since we saw Rage against the machine at the Plaza of Nations on the first week of the Evil Empire tour. It also reminded me of when I saw Pantera here for the Vulgar Display of Power tour in '90(give or take a year). All in all, an awesome show! I'll go see Slayer anytime they're within 3 hours of me again.

My only dissapointment was that they didnt play anything of of Divine Intervention. It would've been cool to hear Fictional Reality or Circle of Beliefs. It seems funny to a have whole album of songs you don't even play live. I wonder if thats the Lombardo factor.