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EXODUS ~ DEATH ANGEL

 
2020-02-14 DE – Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle
 

| Doors: 6 pm | Show: 7 pm | Tickets: 36 Euro + fees | BO: 45 Euro |

 

The Bay Strikes Back

Voracious Souls Deliverd To Evil by the Brotherhood Of The Snake

What a fucking hell of a package!!! The big 3 of Thrash Metal - a triple headliner Bay Area Thrash Metal killer commando. At least that’s how it felt the day after. Finally, Europe get see such… um… killer packages live on stage too! Perfect Valentine’s Day gift and, much better, without all this romantic sentimentalism and relationship stuff ;) ♥
All three bands are very popular in Germany and often enough sell out shows individually. For all three of them, organizers had to upgrade the venue and so, the show moved to the big hall at :: Turbinenhalle Oberhausen ::. And it seems that this even attracted more fans as the crowd was much bigger than the 1800 people capacity for the hall 2. I’d guess there have been almost 2500 fans (but I’m bad at guessing the amount of people).
Said TESTAMENT’s Chuck Billy: "So far, it's great. The fans have been excited for the tour. We're excited, because this is much different than other tours. When we do other tours, sometimes you meet the band for the first time when you get to the first show. We're all friends already, so we have a lot in common, a lot of history back home. We all know the same friends. It's very much like a family. It's very special... It's everything we hoped it would be, and better. As far as the fans, they're getting one hell of a show. It's definitely a representation of the Bay Area thrash metal sound that we all came from in the '80s, so it's awesome that we all get to spread the word, spread the love.”

Okay, here we go. And, it’s Friday again. Same city, same location, same problems. Same procedure ;) Perhaps, I should look for a live-residence nearby ;) The last two shows at this venue have been great in sound and light, so I expected the same quality for tonight’s show and was even looking forward to the big hall that was so frowned upon in the past. To end the shows at 11pm seems to be the new rule – probably a new obligation by the city of Oberhausen. Dunno why, it’s an industrial area without residents nearby.
Anyways, business ran smoothly inside the venue. I still don’t buy me tokens for drinks & food, because you can’t give them back when you got yourself too many.
Merch prizing was typical for US bands but ok: tees 30 Euro, longsleeves 40 Euros and hoodies 70 Euro.

:: pics :: DEATH ANGEL ::

As already mentioned, all bands are very popular, especially in the Ruhr area, with huge fan bases and these bands love to play live around this area too. So, it didn’t wonder that the Turbinenhalle was on fire right from the beginning, when :: DEATH ANGEL :: entered the stage on time and broke into the Grammy-nominated title track of their latest effort, Humanicide. And this great atmosphere was kept till the very last minute of the Testament show. Okay, to be honest, the crowd needed some warm-up time but then started to headbang, chanted DEATH ANGEL, and and got into the first circle pits.
Singer Mark Osegueda told us, how special this tour is, how special this show tonight was at this place and summed up: „…but tonight motherfuckers, tonight we are here to celebrate Bay Area Thrash fucking Metal!“! He was so fkg right!
For (way too short) 50 minutes DEATH ANGEL went through their history. They played two songs from their latest effort Humanicide and then went back to the past playing many classics. Ok, the setlist is debatable, on the other hand, for a real best-of set, DEATH ANGEL would have to play 2 hours at least (same goes for the other bands).
Anyway, that was a highly energetic show and stage performance with lots of pleks, hearts, and setlists for the fans afterwards. Killer show! Great kick-off!

Band: Mark Osegueda (vox), Rob Cavestany (git, vox), Ted Aguilar (git), Damien Sisson (bass), Will Carroll (drums)

Setlist: Humanicide, Voracious Souls, Claws In So Deep, Aggressor, The Dream Calls For Blood, The Moth, Seemingly Endless Time, The Ultra-Violence/Thrown To The Wolves

:: pics :: EXODUS ::

Yeah! Now! Direct and straightforward: :: EXODUS :: were the real headliner of tonight’s show. Everybody was looking forward to see the bay Area Thrash Metal veterans and especially the reunited lost son Gary Holt. To introduce him to the audience was rather a joke ;)
And yes, to see those smiling faces on stage made clear, how much fun everybody had to play together again. Funnily enough, EXODUS started with 10 kleine Jägermeister by the Toten Hosen as an intro (but not till the last one) and then kicked-off with Body Harvest.
EXODUS touched current but not new material and went on with classics, which, of course, made the fans freak out. They indeed were going crazy, started many circle pits and crowd surfers fell into the photo pit in dozens. At Strike Of The Beast even a wall of death could be witnessed.
Also EXODUS took a bow towards their European and especially the German fans and highlighted the noteworthiness of this tour.
An eye-catcher surely were the guitar duels between Lee and Gary - both of them downright had a fling on stage - and also the guitars of Gary Holt. Loved his custom ESP painted (?) with occult themes. Reminded me somehow of Behemoth.
With all the action on stage, bassist Jack Gibson was a bit left out. He stoically played on his left side, while the others roamed the stage fully. Singer Zetro Souza seemed to have some vocal issues but only at higher notes and screams, but nothing that would have had a negative impact on the show.
Ten minutes more playing time than Death Angel but still way too short and the show was over again. With Reggae tunes the fans were forced out to get new beer or to go to the bathrooms to get ready for the grand finale. Another ass-kicking show but boys, it’s really time for a new album!

Band: Steve „Zetro“ Souza (vox), Gary Holt (git), Lee Altus (git), Jack Gibson (bass), Tom Hunting (drums)

Setlist: Body Harvest, Blood In, Blood Out, Deliver Us To Evil, Fabulous Disaster, Deathamphetamine, Blacklist, Bonded By Blood, The Toxic Waltz, Strike Of The Beast

:: pics:: TESTAMENT ::

:: TESTAMENT :: however, are ready to release a new monster in April, named Titans Of Creation, they played one brand new track from: Night Of The Witch.
Regarding the set, TESTAMENT did it the other way round. They started with classics yet focused on newer material. There have been fires too. A few at least. More was probably too precarious. They had a lot of CO2 jets instead. Is that actually eco-friendly? Just joking… ;)
Chuck Billy and Alex Skolnick stood much in the foreground, seeing Chuck strolling the stage, while playing guitar on his micro, and Alex occupying the pedestals to pose for his guitar solos. Eric Peterson and Steve Di Giorgio were left in the background and Gene Hoglan was hardly be seen behind his drum kit. Energy and enthusiasm within the crowd had decreased a bit but was still on a high level.
Again, many expressions of love towards the audience - must be that Valentine’s Day thing ;) - and sticks and pleks for the fans.
By the way, Chuck Billy also used a teleprompter (last seen at the Abbath show). Here I do understand the use at the mass of songs/lyrics that were created during the more than 30 years spanning history of the band. But perhaps, Chuck should have used his glasses too ;)

Indeed, that was an exceptional package and an awesome concert evening! I loved it to see all three bands sharing the stage. I loved it to see all three bands playing live in a row. While peering at the upcoming US tours I wish, more of those packages would find its way to Europe.
Sound and lights have been ok but not that outstanding as it was at the previews shows, but that’s nagging on a high level. The Bay Strikes Back Tour will continue and destroy European cities till March 11 and will come to an end in Hanover at Capitol. So, if you are a Thrash Metal fan and have not seen this package yet, you better grab a ticket and go and see them, goddamn!

Band: Chuck Billy (vox), Eric Peterson (git), Alex Skolnick (git), Steve Di Giorgio (bass), Gene Hoglan (drums)

Setlist: Eerie Inhabitants, The Persecuted Won't Forget, The Haunting, Greenhouse Effect, Dark Roots Of Earth, Last Stand For Independence, Throne Of Thorns, Brotherhood Of The Snake, The Pale King, Careful What You Wish For, Fall Of Sipledome, Night Of The Witch, Into The Pit, Practice What You Preach, Over The Wall (with Steve Souza), Disciples Of The Watch

 

 

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography