Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel
Warfield, San Francisco, California
October 23, 2011

By Robert Kitay

This is one of those shows that will be talked about for years to come. Thrash metal originated in the Bay Area and two of the Bay Area’s finest were on the bill along with the legendary Anthrax. First up was the Bay Area’s own Death Angel. A look around the theater and I noticed more Death Angel shirts than shirts for any other band. Death Angel played a short but energetic set to an appreciative audience, with huge mosh pits, hair flying everywhere, and general mayhem. I’ve seen Death Angel on multiple occasions and have never seen them better. Death Angel’s setlist included:

I Chose the Sky
Evil Priest
Claws in So Deep
Relentless Revolution
Seemingly Endless Time
The Ultra-Violence
Thrown to the Wolves

Next up was another Bay Area thrash legend, Testament. I’ve seen Testament many times, including earlier this year. Once again, I’ve never seen a better show from them. They didn’t move around as much as either Death Angel or Anthrax, but man was the sound crisp, loud and clear. Chuck Billy’s voice was great and the band was tight. Their setlist was:

The Preacher
The New Order
The Persecuted Won’t Forget
Envy Life
Over the Wall
Souls of Black
Into the Pit
Electric Crown
Henchmen Ride
More Than Meets the Eye
D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
3 Days in Darkness
Disciples of the Watch

Finally, it was Anthrax’s time to take the stage. I’ve seen Anthrax many times in the past, but this is the first time I’ve seen them with Joey Belladonna since he rejoined the band. Although I thought John Bush did a fine job with Anthrax, I must say I really prefer them with Joey and this show reminded me of what I was missing. The entire band was tight, sounded fantastic, and showed fantastic non-stop energy. The crowd never stopped their head banging and moshing all night and they certainly didn’t stop for Anthrax. This was a blistering set that included

Worship
Earth on Hell
Fight ‘Em Till You Can’t
Caught in a Mosh
Madhouse
Antisocial
I’m Alive
The Devil You Know
Indians
In the End
Got the Time
Only

Encore:
Among the Living
Metal Thrashing Mad
Refuse/Resist
I Am the Law (Mark Osegueda of Death Angel and Kirk Hammett of Metallica joining on background vocals)
Whiplash (with Kirk Hammett on guitar and vocal)

Yes, some nice surprises at the end of the show. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see Joey sing “Only,” but he did a fine job with it. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see Kirk Hammett joining for a couple songs. For “Whiplash,” Scott Ian handed his guitar over to Kirk, who just ripped through the solo. Oh, Scott Ian may not have had been wearing his guitar, but he certainly was playing the hell out of his air guitar. Although not appearing on stage, true trash metal royalty was present at the show. Gary Holt of Exodus, Kerry King of Slayer, and Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn of Machine Head were all at the show. What I would have gave for backstage passes. As it was, it was a fantastic night of thrash.