October 20, Palace Grounds, Bangalore(Rock N’ India)
In the crowded suburbs of the new metropolitan Bangalore, this name needs no introduction. Formed in the early eighties and now, with the same line-up as they had originally started with, Slayer is set to rock the city. Twelve albums down, they remain as brutal as ever, and are slated for another album release in 2013 too. Their constant and dedicated commitment to the realm of thrash metal, right from the very roots of the genre has set the band out, especially in Bangalore, as one of the metal greats.
Comprised of Tom Araya on bass and vocals, Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King on guitars and Dave Lombardo back on the drums, the band has won two Grammys, and regularly plays at musical gigs worldwide.
Ironically, starting off as a cover band for early metal greats such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Slayer eventually carved out a niche for themselves with their brutally honest and loud music, coupled with their questionable themes, lyrics and band art.
With obvious portrayals of white supremacy and holocaust stories, they have had their fair share of trouble even in India, where all copies of their album Christ Illusion were retracted due to obscene content and visuals. However, in over two decades of provided solace to thousands of metal heads, Slayer still claims to be unbiased and neutral.
Despite their questionable content, these Californian thrash geniuses have in a sense molded and paved the way for modern metal to enter the mainstream music industry.
