Live Review: Kerry King – Electric Ballroom, London

The atmosphere outside The Electric Ballroom was electric as fans, adorned in thrash metal shirts, lined up eagerly for an unforgettable evening. The Slayer logo dominated the sea of black, proudly displayed by the majority of the crowd, highlighting the band’s enduring legacy.

Kicking off the night were English death metal outfit Celestial Sanctuary. From the first note, they delivered a relentless assault of raw, brutal sound. Frontman Cronin commanded the crowd, inciting walls of death and mosh pits. The interplay between Rutterford and Adnett on guitars was technically impressive, complementing Cronin’s furious fretwork. By the end of their set, Celestial Sanctuary left the crowd both exhausted and exhilarated.

After a quick stage transformation, it was time for the main event: a thrash metal masterclass led by the legendary Kerry King. Their setlist, blending tracks from the new album ‘From Hell I Rise’ and select Slayer classics, promised an evening of relentless energy and technical brilliance.

The opening tracks, ‘Where I Reign’ and ‘Trophies Of The Tyrant’, set the tone with blistering intensity. King’s presence was commanding, and vocalist Osegueda’s predatory energy drove the crowd into a frenzy. The transition into ‘Toxic’ and then ‘Repentless’ saw the crowd erupt, a nostalgic throwback to thrash’s golden days.

The band’s exceptional musicianship shone throughout the set. Demmel’s virtuosic guitar work, Sanders’ thunderous bass lines, and Bostaph’s precise drumming elevated the performance. Midway through, the band launched into the ferocious ‘Chemical Warfare’, reigniting the crowd’s fervour. Tracks like ‘At Dawn They Sleep’ and ‘Hate Worldwide’ drove the audience into an even greater frenzy.

The iconic ‘Disciple’ sent the crowd into overdrive, with beer flying and mosh pits breaking out across the floor. King orchestrated the chaos with finesse, while Osegueda’s ferocious vocals kept the energy at its peak. The night reached its zenith with ‘Raining Blood’ and ‘Black Magic’, solidifying the performance as a true masterclass in thrash metal.

In the end, the show was a testament to thrash metal’s enduring power. King’s band delivered a performance that honoured the genre’s roots and made a bold statement about its future. The Electric Ballroom was left in ruins, the crowd battered but exhilarated, with the echoes of a legendary night reverberating through Camden.