Anthrax, Kreator & Testament @ The Halls, Wolverhampton – 22 November 2024

Billed as a double-headliner with special guests, any old-school thrasher will tell you this lineup features three of the very best. The union of U.S. metal monsters Anthrax, German thrash titans Kreator, and Bay Area metal machine Testament promises an epic night of metal, primed to rage!

At 6:25 PM, with the Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight For Your Right’ blasting from the front of house, Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall is nearly at full capacity. The crowd is hyped, delivering a beckoning welcome to Testament, one of the most popular and influential bands in the thrash metal scene over the past 40 years. Kicking off with ‘D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)’ and ‘3 Days in Darkness’ from their dark and heavy 1999 album The Gathering, this is no ordinary opening set from no ordinary special guests.

Against a spectacular backdrop of flames and lights, Chris Dovas’s pounding drum kit sits prominently atop the riser. Frontman Chuck Billy commands the stage, flanked by the dynamic and technically brilliant Alex Skolnick and Eric Petersen, along with Steve Di Giorgio, whose thundering bass reverberates throughout the hall. “We’re in for a great night of heavy metal!” Chuck declares, proudly surveying the roaring audience.

Testament

What follows is a blistering show, drawing material from at least half of their 14-album catalogue. Highlights include ‘Children of the Next Level’, ‘True American Hate’, and ‘Electric Crown’ – each accompanied by the standard fare of circle pits and crowd-surfing mayhem. Encouraging more of the same until the very end, Chuck expresses heartfelt thanks to everyone, especially “the crazies”, before launching into a searing rendition of the classic ‘Into the Pit’ to round things off in style. Quite simply, what a band—and what a storming way to start the night.

I’ve seen all three of tonight’s bands countless times over the years, but Kreator has consistently stood out in everything they do. As a cornerstone of thrash metal history, boasting a legacy of iconic tracks and an unwavering dedication to their craft, each of their blockbuster performances leaves a lasting impression. From the moment they take the stage – on a set of epic proportions, with flames leaping to the roof – and launch into ‘Hate Über Alles’, the title track from their 2022 release, I have no doubt that tonight will be no less unforgettable.

Mille Petrozza leads the Teutonic thrash masterclass with an energy that many half his age would find exhausting. The relentless, razor-sharp assault of metal cuts deep, filling the set with endless fist-pumping moments and roaring singalongs. Early standouts like ‘Enemy of God’, ‘666 – World Divided’, and ‘Hordes of Chaos’ strike with unyielding intensity. Taking a moment to address the crowd, Petrozza reminisces about Kreator’s mid-eighties UK tour with Celtic Frost before dedicating ‘Betrayer’ as an “old school celebration”.

Kreator deliver with unmatched, crystal clear precision. Drummer Jürgen Reil and bassist Frédéric Leclercq form a solid and intensely heavy, rhythmic core, setting the stage perfectly for the guitar interplay between Petrozza and Sami Yli-Sirniö. Immersed in his own artistic realm, Yli-Sirniö unveils stunningly smooth lead solos that captivate the crowd, before attention switches back to Petrozza and his shrill. bark-like vocal which cuts through the chaos. It’s an experience that riles the masses into a frenzied circle-pit, with power, passion and aggression.

Kreator

Continuing with ‘Satan is Real’, ‘Phantom Antichrist’, and ‘Strongest of the Strong’, there’s a bit of a wait before the true old-school celebration continues. But when it does, it sends chills down the spine. During classic album title tracks ‘Terrible Certainty’ and set closer, ‘Pleasure to Kill’ I imagine that for many in the crowd, Kreator will steal the show and claim the title of performance of the night.

It’s a little over two years since Anthrax were at Birmingham Odeon on their delayed 40th anniversary tour. As with that show, the build-up tonight sees a screening of the ‘XL’ livestream goodwill messages relating to the bands longevity. Once we’re done with watching and listening to the A-list fans, it’s down to business for the ones who matter. The curtain drops to reveal a huge Anthrax logo emblazoned across the back of the stage, and we’re out of the blocks with ‘A.I.R.’, followed by ‘Got the Time’.- the Joe Jackson cover from the Persistence of Time album.

For 75 electrifying minutes, the crowd is immersed in everything they’ve come to love and expect from Anthrax. With a career-spanning setlist featuring ‘Caught in a Mosh’, ‘Fight ´Em ´Til You Can’t’, and ‘Madhouse’, Scott Ian commands the stage with his razor-sharp riffing. The rhythm master is perfectly complemented by Charlie Benante’s masterful drumming and Frank Bello’s punchy bass tone – together embodying the core of Anthrax’s iconic sound.

Charging ahead with ‘Be All, End All’, it’s a relentless, high-octane assault that thrashes with unbridled energy and intensity. Jon Donais adds his layer of ferocious shredding, while Joey Belladonna’s soaring, dynamic vocals continue to set him apart as a standout force in the thrash metal genre. Grinning from ear to ear, he parades around the stage, extending his microphone to the roaring audience, interacting with young and older fans alike, and radiating a genuine joy that elevates the experience for everyone in the room.

“My friends, may I call you Wolves?” enquires Ian before expressing his excitement about being back in the UK. “Do you love thrash metal?” he asks. The appropriately baying pack answer with true conviction, which then leads us into ‘Metal Thrashing Mad’, from the 1984 debut album, Fistful of Metal, before he’s back at the mic to talk about the bands first UK tour and the release of Among The Living. Then of course comes ‘I Am The Law’, the Judge Dredd-inspired classic which propelled these guys to greatness, followed by ‘The Devil You Know’ and ‘Antisocial’.

A storming show from New York’s finest is completed with a staple serving of ‘Indians’, before ‘Gung-Ho’, which is being played on these dates for the first time in nearly twenty years. This brings to a close a fantastic Friday night package of the heaviest sounds from the East Coast, West Coast, and Europe, and one that will live in the hearts of those lucky enough to bear witness. On behalf of them all, thanks guys, and danke.

Review & Photography: Steve Johnston

Anthrax