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Kerry King at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver

Published

5 days ago

January 21, 2025

On January 20, Kerry King turned the Commodore Ballroom into a thrash metal haven last night, and it was everything fans could have hoped for. The Slayer legend brought his new solo band to Vancouver, and it was an absolute riot.

The setlist hit that sweet spot between old-school Slayer bangers and fresh tracks from King’s solo debut, From Hell I Rise. They opened with “Where I Reign,” and right away, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a tame night. When the band launched into “Raining Blood,” the pit went wild—it felt like pure chaos in the best way. And just when you thought you had the vibe pegged, they threw in a couple of Iron Maiden covers, “Purgatory” and “Killers,” giving them a thrashy twist that somehow worked perfectly.

King didn’t come alone; his band is stacked with heavyweights, including Paul Bostaph on drums, Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, and Mark Osegueda on vocals. Together, they brought serious energy and made sure the room stayed electric all night. The fiery red-and-black lighting gave the whole show a wicked vibe, with King looking every bit the metal icon he is.

Opening acts American crossover trash band Municipal Waste and New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry got the crowd hyped and moshing early, but when King and his crew hit the stage, it was next-level. This show was a solid reminder that thrash metal is still kicking hard.

Kerry King and his band will be on tour all over North America, ending in Los Angeles on February 22 before heading to Europe in July. More info on his website.

Check out our favourites photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!