There is no other metal band that compares to Slayer. No other band has been together as long, destroyed as much stuff, ripped as hard, nor kept their collective foot so heavy on the pedal. Slayer has never let up. Ever.

I finally got to see them wreck shit live on stage at the Mayhem Festival on August 14th in San Antonio, Texas. Thanks to Matt and Nate Bailie, whom I’ve known since the ninth grade, I can now die happy. The set list included “Psychopathy Red” from their forthcoming World Painted Blood record, but also featured highlights from their nearly three decades of chaos, including “War Ensemble,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Mandatory Suicide,” “Born of Fire,” “Ghosts of War,” “South of Heaven,” “Angel of Death,” “Raining Blood” and “Hell Awaits.”

Here are some of the photos that my girl Jessy and I took from the seething floor of the arena.

If you had to sum it up… That probably does it.

Thanks again to Matt and Nate for getting us there and getting us in.