20 years of being a total game changer. 19 consecutive summers of, quite possibly, the biggest and most consistent metal and hard rock festival in Asia. No one else but Pulp Magazine has done this for our country.
After 2017’s Slayer show, numerous fans voiced their displeasure with not being able to see one of the world’s foremost thrash metal bands because of how small KIA Theatre is and the ticket prices which some thought were pretty high, but Pulp outdid themselves with the announcement of Slayer coming back to the Philippines for their farewell world tour while maintaining a low price that resounded in every regular Juan and Juana being able to afford to see the show, and, my oh my, what a show did they get this time.
The day started off with local bands Remnants, SOG, and Lostthreads, all of whom brought their own brand of music and energy to the crowd. Their short sets notwithstanding, the crowd really came to roll in for local Cavite legends, SIN. It might’ve already been a different lineup from their original incarnation, but the band still brought the menace, with Charles Diaz’s imposing stage presence truly taking over while the rest of the band truly showcasing their insane chops on their instruments.
A brief respite came for everyone to catch their breaths, but when Japanese NWOAHM styled band Her Name In Blood stepped on stage, the intense crowd energy was right back on. Emmure followed with their brand of hardcore, Sikth came with their groovy djent, and a lengthy set from Australian deathcore act Thy Art Is Murder showed that heavy music in the world was well represented, but if there was one thing that was truly evident, all the bands during the day shared influences by the main act of the night: the almighty Slayer.
Now, if anything, you do know you’re doing something right in your career if people cheer on your guitar and drum techs doing the soundcheck before your set, and this truly was the case here. People all over Amoranto Stadium waited for this, some all their lives to see the remaining original members Tom Araya and Kerry King to blast them into oblivion, and blasted into oblivion were everyone.
Throughout their hour plus set, Slayer truly didn’t hold back. Grown men in metal shirts shed tears at being able to see these metal gods in the flesh. Younger kids finally understood why these men are truly respected legends in the music industry. True professionalism shone through. Every note was hit the right way. Rarely do us Filipinos get a treat like this.
As the show wound down, a Hanneman flag enveloped the stage, and this left a striking thought in my head: It’s sad that Slayer only got to come to the Philippines when they were already about to retire. We were robbed of never getting to see band founder and primary song writer Jeff Hanneman onstage. It’s more than admirable, and honestly a total treat, to see Gary Holt fill the post, but it’s a haunting thought that we never got the opportunity to see the blonde guy in one corner, wearing that Raiders jersey, with his signature model ESP.
Beauty in chaos. That’s always what Slayer has brought to the table. The insane sound they created, the influence they brought to every metal act that has debuted thereafter, Slayer will always be one of the seminal bands of our time. Within the chaos, though, was, quite possibly, one of the most heartwarming moments in Philippine concert history. Yes, we’ve all received international artists who have always said “Mahal ko/namin kayo”, but, for the first time in history, it finally felt real and heartfelt. To quote local hardcore legend Marben Romero’s Facebook post, “And with tears in his eyes, Mr. Araya said, “I’ll miss you”’
Cheers to Pulp for another awesome, butt kicking show.
Words by: Mike de Leon Photos by: Caren Gudiaga
