KLASH OF THE TITANS 2024 with TESTAMENT, KREATOR and POSSESSED at HOB LV

Vegas welcomed once again the Klash of the Titans Tour, a metal massacre of a show with a totally stacked lineup this year with TESTAMENT, a first show in Vegas in 15 years by KREATOR, and POSSESSED.

POSSESSED as many of you know, started way back in the early 80’s and are generally regarded as the first death metal band. Lead singer Jeff Becerra was shot in 1989, and as a result is paralyzed from the chest down, but has since performed from a wheelchair and rocks the shit out of each and every song. The band kicked off the show with “Pentagram” from way back in 1985, followed by “The Exorcist” also from 1985. There was not much room onstage so Jeff had to pretty much stay in one area, but managed to drink his fair share of beer and lead the band in a short but heavy laden set, a mix of way back 84-85 songs, and several from their most recent album, Revelations of Oblivion on Nuclear Blast. The crowd absolutely ate it up and they did a great job setting the tone for the night. More on Possessed HERE.

It’s been 15 years since KREATOR last played Las Vegas so this was a big deal getting to see them play on US soil, and in the comfortable surroundings of the HOB. Kreator are a German thrash band formed back in 1982 and are one of the best selling German thrash bands of all time. Their staging was one of the best I have seen all year with 3 giant inflatable devil looking creatures behind the band, along with 2 impaled characters on each side of the stage.

They opened up their show with the song ‘Hate Uber Allies” and “Phobia”, and to say this band was tight would be an understatement, as they showed the packed venue why they have had such a long and distinguished career. The band played a full set of 14 songs and could have played longer, the crowd did not want them to stop. The band was hitting on all cylinders until they played “666-World Divided”, when the sound totally went out multiple times and did not come back on until the band finished that song, but they did not seem phased by this and continued on with “Hordes Of Chaos” to the roar of the crowd. The band drove this show home with “Violent Revolution” and “Pleasure To Kill”, still looking fresh after a brutal set, thanked the screaming fans and took a final bow. Kreator is classic thrash and we hope we don’t have to wait another 15 years to be treated to another show by these legends.

Now it was time for one of my favorite live thrash bands, TESTAMENT - the Bay area legends always make for a great show in Vegas, and once again the House of Blues was the perfect place to see the annual return of the Titans legacy. Testament shows no signs of slowing down even after 41 years of taking thrash to a new level, Chuck Billy sounded as fresh as ever, along with one of the best thrash guitarists anywhere in Alex Skolnick. The band started off their set with 1988’s “Eerie Inhabitants” then “The New Order”, and told the

crowd that they appreciate being able to dive deep into their catalog and play some songs they normally do not get to play. They just played songs off of their first 2 albums, The Legacy and The New Order, that were re-released this year as remastered versions by Sterling Sound (HERE).

A highlight of the show was when the band told the crowd they had a special surprise for them, and introduced 11 year

old MAYA NEELAKANTAN, a quarter finalist from AGT who has been playing heavy metal guitar since she was 6 years old. I can honestly tell you she showed great poise and did not seem phased by the fact she was onstage before a packed HOB playing "Curse of the Legion of the Damned" with Testament. This was her first time playing before a thrash / metal crowd and she looked like she loved every moment of it. Maya thanked the band and said it was awesome to play a song like that with the band. Testament continued and the band kicked ass as they closed with “Over The Wall” and “Into the Pit”. By far one of the best shows I have seen this year, and shows that in 2024 thrash is alive and raving.