CONCERT REVIEW: KLASH OF THE TITANS TOUR IN TORONTO FEATURING TESTAMENT, KREATOR AND POSSESSED

So what a day this turned out to be. When I woke up I got an email saying I was approved for a media/photo pass for the show. Super excited, I went and charged my battery for my camera. I was told I would be able to give Alex Skolnick one of This Day In Metal's t-shirts. I left in my car and off away I went cranking up Testament in my car's speaker.

Just before I got to the show, I doubled checked to see if my camera was working. And guess what? I forgot the battery at home! To be honest I was devastated. I wanted to photograph the band. Seriously I was gonna go home. So I had to make a decision;  go home or go see one of my favourite bands? Obviously I chose METAL!

What a diverse crowd that was there. Young, old, different religions, different political views. It was good to see how we all can go and enjoy great Metal music.

First on were Possessed. Jeff Becerra is truly a legend. For a Thursday night, the crowd was lively and having a good time. The band is considered one of the first death metal bands and are legends in the Bay area, setting the stage for thrash metal alongside the likes of Metallica and Exodus. As much as I loved watching the band, my mind was not very focused. Since I forgot the camera battery I was feeling disappointed. Thank you Jeff for setting the tone of the evening. I really enjoyed the songs 'The Exorcist' and 'Pentagram' from the band.

Check out our interview with Jeff HERE.

Next on were German thrash Metal legends Kreator. Wow this was a treat I wasn't expecting. “Toronto! The Kreator has returned!” bellowed Mille Petrozza as the legendary German thrashers took to the stage. Having been playing and touring since 1982, they are true masters of this genre. Just none stop straight out in your face thrash metal assault. Apparently this tour is called Klash of the Titans for a reason. Man, at 54 and trying to head-bang you sure feel the effects the next morning. I was so tempted to just get up and surf but my body told me otherwise.

Frontman Miland "Mille" Petrozza and his bandmates took the crowd through 16 songs playing some newer songs like 'Hate Über Alles' and 'Strongest of the Strong' and some of the older tracks like 'Pleasure To Kill' from the album of the same name (Pleasure To Kill was ranked at number four on Loudwire's top ten list of "Thrash Albums NOT Released by the Big 4") and 'Enemy of God.' We have recently been talking about Satan in our This Day In Metal team group chat and indeed Satan was alive and well at this concert. Songs like '666' and 'Satan is Real' set the crowd into a mosh frenzy. He very much encouraged the crowd to engage in crowd surfing for which they did.

KREATOR SET LIST:

1. Hate Über Alles
2. Phobia
3. Coma of Souls
4. Enemy of God
5. 666 - World Divided
6. Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)
7. Hail to the Hordes
8. Betrayer
9. Satan Is Real
10. Mars Mantra
11. Phantom Antichrist
12. Strongest of the Strong (Dedicated to bands playing tonight and audience)
13. Terrible Certainty
14. The Patriarch
15. Violent Revolution
16. Pleasure to Kill

And finally Testament entered the stage, one of my all time favourite thrash bands. Although I was a little disappointed the band didn't play my favourite song 'Return to Serenity' I was so glad to finally see them.

I was fortunate to get a few pictures before my phone died. Actually it was better because I able to really enjoy the show. Put your phones away, you'll thank yourself later. I only take pictures when photographing from the stage or unless I forget my camera battery!

Seeing mosh pits at a concert is very unique, it's almost like a ritual. The crowd delivered, I think I've never been in one mosh pit in my life however the temptation is always there. At one part of the night, Chuck even encouraged the fans to come onstage. That's when I noticed security get edgy but it was all good.

Honestly the whole band was good and props to Alex Skolnick, he totally shredded all night long and their drummer was phenomenal and his drum solo was amazing.

During the song 'Over the Wall,' I was looking onstage and wondering where the vocalist had disappeared to. Then to my surprise, out comes Chuck from the side of the stage and comes right in front of me singing. Totally shit my pants moment and got to pat him on the back. Damn, I will cherish that forever and got a Testament guitar pick.

Not sure who was having more fun, me or Chuck who was throwing out picks all throughout the concert. This night was pure thrash metal from Testament. Just one damn good song after another. This band is one of the all time greats and if not considered Top 4 they are clearly in the Top 6.

Metalhead Marv

TESTAMENT SET LIST:

1. Eerie Inhabitants
2. The New Order
3. Apocalyptic City
4. Raging Waters
5. The Preacher
6. The Haunting
7. Trial by Fire
8. First Strike Is Deadly
9. A Day of Reckoning
10. Alone in the Dark
11. Do or Die
12. Disciples of the Watch
13. Over the Wall
14. Into the Pit

Check out our recent interview with Alex Skolnick below:

TOUR DATES: