On Friday, September 13, 2024 we will see one of the most incredible lineups of the year, with thrash heavyweights TESTAMENT, with KREATOR and POSSESSED on the KLASH OF THE TITANS tour at the House of Blues inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. While we’ve seen Testament repeatedly through the years, and Possessed is not a stranger to our scene out here, this lineup is special because of German thrash legends, KREATOR. Kreator doesn’t come to the states as much as we would like, so this tour is overall just an absolute GEM and this show is going to be one that you are NOT going to want to miss if you’re heavy into the thrash metal genre.
Possessed seem to have been touring quite a bit lately, though their last release Revelations of Oblivion (Nuclear Blast) came out in 2019. Blabbermouth reported last year that Possessed would be working on new music this year, and we’re eagerly waiting to see what this band has in store on a new record. Last year Possessed performed at Backstage Bar & Billiards downtown, and despite being cramped up onto the smaller stage, they delivered a blistering performance, despite vocalist Jeff Becerra being in a wheelchair. This man is resilient and intense, and I’m excited to see these guys rip up the House of Blues stage!
Possessed don’t seem to have an official website, but you can keep up with them at the following links:
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Nuclear Blast Artist Page | Merch
Likely one of the most awesome things about this show is going to be KREATOR’s return to Las Vegas. This band has not been here in about 15 years. The last time they were here was for 2009’s Hordes of Chaos tour with Exodus, Belphegor, Warbringer & Epicurean, and that tour was on this same stage, at the House of Blues.
Although Kreator has been to the states within the last decade or so, they are still largely a European touring band. They have also performed at just about every big metal festival outside the states. (Bloodstock, Hellsinki, Inferno, Wacken, most notably.) But they’ve also been a part of numerous runs of 70,000 tons of metal, which could be considered a US event, but since it’s a cruise, some fans may not count it as one. (Sidenote: I will forever be jealous of the insane festivals that happen across the pond in Europe!)
At any rate, KREATOR being back in Vegas makes this show one not to miss, since we have no idea when they’ll return. On this run, they will more than likely be supporting their 2022 release, Hate Über Alles, (Nuclear Blast) which is their fifteenth studio album. As a thrash fan, you won’t see me complaining about this record or anything played from it. It includes just about everything that I love about the thrash genre. The fast tempo and shredding always gets me going, and in a genre that can potentially become stale because of a lack of originality, KREATOR keeps it interesting, and holds that torch high for one of the best in their home country of Germany, and as Europe as a whole in my opinion.
Official Website | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Let’s be honest here… you really can never go wrong with TESTAMENT. I’ve always seen this band as one of the most underrated in the thrash genre, especially coming from the Bay, which has been notably pinned as the birthplace for the genre. I’ll never shit on their friends in Metallica, Slayer, or Megadeth, but TESTAMENT always seemed to have a different organization of elements that the other three don’t have. (Don’t talk that the wrong way, I’m definitely a fan of those mentioned!) Though this band hasn’t received as much mainstream play or attention as the others coming from the scene, they’re one of the first band I personally always suggest to fans that may be unaware of their existence.
We’ve so fortunately have been able to cover TESTAMENT a few times in the past, and they are always a real treat! They still seem to be on the touring cycle of their 2020 release, TITANS OF CREATION. (You can read my overall thoughts on this release HERE.)
What should we expect from these thrash metal titans this time around? I really couldn’t tell you specifics, but I definitely expect to come home at the end of the night with a sore ass neck from headbanging. These guys DO NOT let up on the energy! Eric Peterson, Alex Skolnick and Steve Di Giorgio all perfectly align with Chuck Billy’s movements across the stage, at sometimes maybe competing with each other, but more so complimenting each other harmoniously without any compromising.
Official Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify
One more thing to give notice to… this ENTIRE BILL are bands that all of the bands have had their recent releases on NUCLEAR BLAST. So, big, big thanks and appreciation to Nuclear Blast for keeping metal in the spotlight and being a constant source for some of the best metal records in existence!
See you in the pit, Vegas!
For additional coverage of TESTAMENT, check the links below!