Concert Review: Slayer and Marilyn Manson at Mayhem Fest

I have to talk to you about last night’s Mayhem Fest tour stop at Sandstone but I really don’t wanna. But I should just quit bitching and go on with things because I knew what the responsibilities were when I asked for the gig. Fuck. Who would’ve thought you’d feel this way the day after a Slayer show? And therein lies all the problems in the world. So let’s just do this and get it over with.

If you don’t know about the Mayhem Festival it’s a touring act of metal bands – some good some great and a lot downright shitty. It’s sponsored by a lot of really EXTREME brand names like Rockstar Energy Drink, and other stuff you need to stick in your face hardcore, according to the ads. So you know it’s tough. The day started around 2 p.m. with 13 bands set to play over three stages, but Harper and myself didn’t get there until Killswitch Engage was halfway through their set, at about a quarter to 8. Killswitch Engage writes bad songs and likes to see boobs in the audience. That’s all there is to say about them.

Now Slayer‘s another story, and that’s the act that was coming on after Killswitch Engage. Of the big four, Slayer’s the only band that still matters and there’s a reason they’ve held on to that relevance. Stuck in a bill with a dozen other younger bands, Slayer’s older stuff still sounds contemporary if not damn near cutting edge.