Three massive heavy weights in the metal genre, led by Anthrax, return to London on their European Tour 2024, we went along to checkout some of the best bands that put HEAVY into Heavy Metal!

As Hammersmith braced itself for a metal battering from three heavyweight juggernauts of the genre, the UK also braced itself for the arrival of Storm Bert! And the storm, combined with roadworks and appalling traffic jams almost scuppered me seeing openers Testament. However, after abandoning the car and a two mile walk I arrived just as they were taking to the stage!

testament

The lights came up to reveal an area engulfed in haze to the point where you could barely make out the stage itself, let alone anyone on the stage. However, we know Testament have arrived as the first notes ring out from DNR. Eventually the haze clears a little to reveal the band, Chuck Billy looking as happy as usual, clearly relishing performing in London again and to an absolutely rammed Eventim Apollo!

Billy is throwing picks into the crowd and the smile barely leaves his face, his trademark air guitar widdling evident throughout the whole set! As usual in this venue the sound is spot on, special note for the bass playing of Steve Di Giorgio, playing a fretless bass, his playing style is inspirational, matched with a really impressive sound that grounds everything along with the solid drumming of Chris Dovas at the back of the stage (dodging the pyros that push flames into the roof of the venue in time with the music!)

A furious version of WWIII (apt with the direction the world is currently taking) keeps the energy levels sky high. The Formation Of Damnation continues in the same vein with pits opening up and lots head banging. Cleverly they stick Return To Serenity into the set to give the band and audience a welcome breather and an opportunity to actually hear Chuck Billy singing (with more than a little help from the audience!) A great song that makes it clear that Testament are so much more than just another thrash metal band.

Low is welcomed by the crowd, this is without doubt one of the best songs from the Testament back catalog and once again gets the audience vocal chords working. Electric Crown gives Alex Skolnick another opportunity to shine on the solo front, flinging his guitar around and pulling some shapes! More Than Meets The Eye sees Chuck Billy conducting the crowd to follow the hook line, much singing along and genuine love for this band. More Skolnick solos and infectious choruses.

The set concludes with Into The Pit which seals the deal. More than a worthy support for Kreator and Anthrax to follow and the audience is thoroughly warmed up!

So Testament take their bows, more picks into the crowd and much smiling. The lights come up and the stage is prepared for Kreator. A large curtain with “KREATOR” written across it is lifted to keep the stage at least partly hidden. Two large inflattable demons appear on each side of the stage, behind the curtain all manner of pyros, sparklers, smoke machines and confetti cannons are prepared. In fact so much stuff at the front of the stage that when Kreator do emerge they are left 3 or 4 meters back in order to allow for the firework boxes at the front!

kreator

Before the curtain drops, we have Run To The Hills by Maiden blasted out of the PA, with the whole venue singing along, good move to get everyone in fine voice, then it is time for some good solid thrash as the curtain drops and Kreator blast into Hate Uber Alles from the 2022 album of the same name. This rocks along at a fine pace with a chorus built for singing along to.

Miland “Mille” Petrozza urges the crowd to up the ante and is rewarded with chants of “Krea-tor…Krea-tor“. The previously mentioned assortment of fire, confetti and sparklers are unleashed at points during the set, along with a mass of dead “bodies” hanging from their necks that fall from the roof of the venue over the stage. A fantastic light show completes the feast for the eyes.

As ever, Kreator are squeaky tight, there is no room for sloppiness and none displayed. Enemy Of God is another song that embeds itself in your head and demands a singalong. Mille splits the crowd for a wall of death, the usual chaos ensues! As 666 – World Divided finishes chants of “Krea-tor…Krea-tor” start from the crowd again with a mass of fists in the air!

Mille announces”we are Kreator and you, Hammersmith, are our Hordes of Chaos!” which immediately leads into a fierce rendition of Hordes Of Chaos. Keeping on the Hordes theme, they follow this with Hail ToTthe Hordes which reduces the paces somewhat and gives us a bit of space to breath! Sami Yli-Sirniö is his usual self, looking lost in the music, eyes shut for part of the performance. No such relaxation from bass player, Frédéric Leclercq, who is running around the stage and spends most of the set punching the air when not playing. Mille remains centre stage, not moving far from his mic. Pyrotechnics erupt throughout.

Mille mentions how long the band have been going and how they played in London with Celtic Frost in 1987 (I think that was the year), the name Celtic Frost gets a few cheers from the older members of the audience! For Betrayer Mille asks for the crowd to participate in some “London style crowd surfing” (I have no idea what this is!) but the number of crowd surfers increases massively during the song and the security at the front of the stage are kept busy throughout!

Satan Is Real is another cracking song which provides an opportunity for the crowd to sing along with the chorus and as the song finishes the band leave the stage to be replaced by a couple of dudes dressed as demons and holding flaming torches. There is a brief pause here before the band return to blast into Phantom Antichrist and then the confetti cannons go off and we’re all being showered with paper!

Strongest Of The Strong is dedicated to the other bands on the bill and to the audience and eventually we get to the final song of the evening which is the inevitable Pleasure To Kill. A stunning set from Kreator and suitable long as befits one of the true heavyweights of the genre. The guys come to the front of the stage and take their bows, more picks into the crowd. Jürgen “Ventor” Reil on drums looks like he has just taken a shower! I’ve never seen Kreator and not been impressed and this evening continues that run. Top show from a top band!

So, you might be wondering how Anthrax could top all of that. I certainly was! Another curtain comes down as all of the pyrotechnic paraphernalia is removed from the front of the stage and the drum kits are switched. Then the lights go down as anticipation builds and a short film is projected onto the curtain. Various celebs (from film and music genres) extolling the virtues of Anthrax and how they have embedded themselves into the heavy metal hall of fame. In truth it is a little self indulgent but interesting to see which celebs get the biggest cheers!

anthrax

Then the curtain drops and we’re away! I’d forgotten how good Anthrax really are to be honest but as soon as the first riffs of A.I.R. ring out any doubts I might have had are brushed away. Joey Belladonna runs around the stage like a teenager, boundless energy, and great distinctive vocals. Scott Ian, with his big goaty beard, is one of those metal personalities that is immediately recognisable, (much like Kerry King, Hetfield etc).

Caught In A Mosh from my favourite Anthrax album Among The Living is a crowd pleaser for sure with what seems like the whole venue singing along. Some super impressive drumming from Charlie Benante  keeping the chaos together, along with the irrepressible enthusiasm of bassist Frank Bello. We must not forget Jon Donais on lead too, quietly adding some super tasty solos onto the finely crafted songs.

Madhouse is another chugathonic slice of heavy metal that has the crowd nodding with another chorus that begs to be sung along with. The cello(?) intro to Be All, End All pours from the PA to be followed by the insanely heavy riffing of this song proving that Anthrax can still thrash with the best.

Joey Belladonna asks the crowd “do you fucking love thrash metal??!!” Of course the answer is yes and the next song is for you as they launch into the depths of time and Metal Thrashing Mad. Some impressive singing on this one as Belladonna stretches his vocal chords to the point of destruction.

When Scott Ian starts talking about a song linked to Judge Dread there isn’t anyone in the venue who doesn’t know he is referring I Am The Law. This is welcomed like an old friend and performed perfectly. Another one that has the whole venue singing along and mosh pits breaking out spontaneously. It is all performed with precision, Benante and Bello seemingly locked together with superglue and providing the foundation for the crushing guitar riffs layered on top.

The Devil You Know shows Anthraxs more rocky side and provides a springboard into the final 3 crackers of the evening which raised the energy levels even higher. Starting with the inevitable Antisocial, the whole venue singing along, Indians (another classic Anthrax track) and finally Gung Ho”.It is a truly impressive performance, bucket loads of energy married with songs and riffs with massive hooks and choruses that most bands can only dream about. They take their bows, more souvenirs for the crowd, picks, sticks and even a drumskin (which sails effortless out like a frisbee!).

So, what a night, I knew it was going to be good, but it ended up being something very special. All three bands on top form, all different but carrying the same flag. Was it worth braving Storm Bert and a long walk? You bet!!

The European Tour 2024 now continues through Europe until mid December

All concert photography by Graham Hilling. You can check out more of his work on his website, here.

Anthrax online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / YouTube

Kreator online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / YouTube / TikTok

Testament online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / YouTube

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