Kerry King and Whiplash

Kerry King  at Poppodium 013, Tilburg, Netherlands June 3rd 2024

Whiplash at Little Devil bar, Tilburg, Netherlands 8 June 2024.

I have actually stopped doing concerts live/atmosphere reports. Nevertheless, sometimes I still might write some lines about concerts and or festivals, which I visited. Just because I like doing it as a reminder of events, where i’ve been. On June 3rd 2024, together with my friend Bine and her son Joey, I was in Germany when a friend asked me to be on the guestlist for that night’s concert of Kerry King, former guitarist of the American Metal band Slayer. Of course I was happy with the invitation and went to the show with some friends. It was a great show with a great sound of a supergroup. I was blown away by Mark Osegueda’s (Death Angel) incredible vocal performance. This supergroup with King and Bay Area masters: Demmel, Osegueda and Bostaph, sounded like the perfect blend between Death Angel and Slayer. Aggressive, old school and straight into your face. Just a mind-blowing concert with a 19 track setlist, including 7 Slayer covers to top it off, like classics such as: Repentless, Chemical Warfare, Raining Blood and Black Magic. It was also a special day, because it was the first day of the tour and King was "the birthday boy" who turned 60 on the day of this show. I fully enjoyed every single moment and I think this colleboration of Metal superstars might succeed.

A few days later, I cellebrated my 46th belated birthday bash (my real bday was in February). We held this party at my friends place and went to Little Devil bar to have a great afterparty with the American Thrash Metal band Whiplash. Also this concert was a real blast. The club was really packed with headbangers and slamdancers, there was also some crowdsurfing going on and a good friendly violent fun vibe. Whiplash nailed the place with their rough 80’s Thrash Metal sound and every visitor clearly enjoyed the entire gig, as well did the band. Founding member Tony Portaro (guitar-vocalist) and his band always make a passionated impression to me, and its clear this is all about passion for the music. A really great 14 track setlist which ended with their two all-time classics : Stage Dive and Power Thrashing Death. The show was really cool and the afterparty with many friends and Dj Marc topped it off.  What a week, such an energy!

-Patchman Marco-