Slayer gave a big farewell back in 2019, but the band ended up feeling like the split was premature, and last night (9/22) they made their return to the stage for the first time in five years to headline Riot Fest, the same festival they played their “final” Chicago show at in 2019.
It was a rainy day in Chicago, but that didn’t seem to dampen any of the excitement for Slayer’s return. They kicked the show off by playing the riff to the classic “South of Heaven” with a curtain still up in front of the stage, and even before it dropped, fans were screaming and singing along to the riff. Once the band kicked in and the curtain fell, the energy only rose, and it stayed on a high as Slayer tore through a career-spanning set, tons of pyro and upside down burning crosses included.
They loaded the set with classics like “Raining Blood,” “Angel of Death,” “War Ensemble,” “Mandatory Suicide,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Hell Awaits,” “Postmortem, and more, along with some choice newer cuts, the first performance of “Reborn” from 1986’s Reign In Blood in a decade, and the first performance of “213” from 1994’s Divine Intervention in 26 years. Like during their last few years as a band, Tom Araya and Kerry King were joined by ’90s-era Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph (who took over for original drummer Dave Lombardo) and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt (who joined after the death of original guitarist Jeff Hanneman). Check out the full setlist, photos by James Richards IV, and multiple fan-shot video.
Up next for Slayer is Louder Than Life in Louisville this weekend (9/27) and Aftershock in Sacramento on October 10. Those are their only two scheduled shows at the moment.
In July, Kerry King discussed the possibility of more shows in an interview with Metal Injection, saying, “I’m trying to be real and definitely say, hey, we’re not gonna tour again,” he explained. “And we’re certainly not gonna record again, ’cause I have a means of doing that now with my band. [We’re doing] three shows for now. And I say ‘for now’ because I know Europe’s gonna come knocking, ‘Hey, man, you guys played America. Come see us.’ So it wouldn’t surprise me if something like that happened, but it’s certainly not on my books right now.”
In an interview with Guitar World around that same time, he added, “There could be an instance where there’s another one-off. It just has to be the right offer at the right time, maybe someplace everybody loves to go. But touring, no, I don’t see touring. But, you know, who’s to say a one-off can’t happen again?”
He also added, “We’re not going to record anymore. That final tour was definitely our final tour. This is just a reason to have some fun the guys, play a few shows and then jump back in the coffin.”
The rain will stop at Riot Fest soon, but tonight it will be raining blood from a lacerated sky when Slayer hits the stage. pic.twitter.com/ErMBuM683N
— Riot Fest (@RiotFest) September 22, 2024
Listening to dr dog and slayer at the same time is pretty fucking wild
— CATBITE (@catbiteband) September 23, 2024
Slayer @ Riot Fest 2024 Setlist (via)
South of Heaven
Reborn (First time live since 2014)
Blood Red
Postmortem
Repentless
Payback
Temptation
Jihad
Seasons in the Abyss
Born of Fire
War Ensemble
Hate Worldwide
Disciple
Dead Skin Mask
Hell Awaits
213 (First time live since 1998)
Mandatory Suicide
Raining Blood
Black Magic
Angel of Death