Vogue Theatre, September 20 2012
Last time Anthrax played here, they were opening for Judas Priest at Pacific Coliseum and gave them more than a run for their money. This time the favour was returned by Testament who, loomed over by an awesomely metal gorgon/wendigo backdrop, delivered a blistering set in anticipation of the thrash pranksters.
Propelled by the signature double kick assault of local drum wiz Gene Hoglan, the Berkeley metal vets had fists pumping for stand-outs “More than Meets the Eye”, “Into the Pit” and “Practice What You Preach.” Comic relief provided by what frontman Chuck Billy dubbed the worst stage dive ever and it wasn’t hard to agree. Speaking of Billy (and comic relief), what was with the relentless super-detailed air guitar noodling on the light saber?
As much as touring England with Armored Saint gave me huge respect for John Bush, it’s hard to deny that Joey Belladonna is the quintessential Anthrax singer and as good now as he ever was. With him at the helm, the band dialed in a solid set leaning heavily on side one of the classic “Among the Living”. New material, including “In the End”, the band’s tribute to DIO and Dimebag, stood up well live. Mid set they reached way back for “Deathrider”, pumping up the crowd in spite of some problems with the monitors. Many in the crowd seemed stoked they found the time near the end for their quirky cover of Joe Jackson’s “Got the Time.”Awesome as it was to see them after so long, the set seemed just pro and everything from the staged stoppage in “Indians” for Scott Ian to the tell the fans they weren’t war dancing hard enough, to Belladonna’s obligatory ‘it’s Vancouver here’s a joint’ interlude seemed a bit contrived. But that’s showmanship, right? After thirty years they can’t be expected to make it up fresh every night, and we didn’t need a game changing performance (or the Slayer road case left ‘accidentally’ in full view on stage) to remind us of their hard won status as one of thrash metal’s heavyweights.
- Dave Bowes
