Saturday May 7, the rescheduled Bay Area Strikes Back tour came to Northern, Kentucky. Classic thrash made a very loud return this year and the crowd followed suit with normal thrash behavior. The Madison Theater marked a sold-out show of the 34 show trek.
The tour was finally rescheduled to spring 2022 after the world started functioning again. The loud, harsh, body surfing movement that began on the West Coast Bay Area’s early ‘80s scene defining a subgenre of music was relearned and continued that night after a FAR-too-long hiatus.
Three bands that helped shape the pit still going loud and strong bellowed and screeched new and classic opuses into the mic along side thunderous drums and ripping, tearing riffs. The body knew what to do but the brain needed to know that it was ‘ok’ to proceed. It took some coaching and prodding but after a few songs, the pit definitely made a triumphant return as Death Angel, Exodus and Testament stormed the halls, shaking the walls invading the stage making speakers and ears vibrate.
Each vocalist went out of their way to give respect and genuine, heartfelt gratitude to everyone there for coming and making shows feel normal again. Though Death Angel’s Mark Osegueda was the first to say words couldn’t convey how happy they were to be touring again, playing for a live audience.
Death Angel, a band with a challenging history to say the least, had been battle and road tested to endure almost anything, even a pandemic. They greeted a crowd ready to remember the old days of metal shows (back in 2019).
They opened with a threesome of oldschool with the “Ultra Violence” that damn “Evil Priest” and “Voracious Souls.”
After a few songs of moderate activity, Osegueda said, he knew it’d been a long time but they were at a thrash show and he expected everyone to act like it was a thrash show. He didn’t have to ask twice as the crowd took action warming up to pre-pandemic normal with the evening’s first pit opening and bodies taking flight..
Act III gave us “Seemingly Endless Time” while vicious cuts from Relentless Retribution clawed deep drawing from a pit calling for blood.
“The Moth” lit up the crowd to hyperactive motion and passion. Title track from their newest “Humanicide” brought the opening sound ceremony to a near close.
The wolves howled loud as the crowd threw them eager bodies to devour, though no one was injured during the set.
It was time for the next loud, toxic reeducation in violence, tailor made from the bonded brothers of Exodus. It was Persona Non Grata from the start with tough love and no mercy given as the “Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves).” The crowd reacted from the start, all first show back for some jitters gone instantly with two years of pent up willing waltzing to make up for. We’d all emerged from “The Years of Death & Dying,” returning to celebrate and worship live metal. The killing machine was ready to destroy armed to the teeth with “Deathamphetamine,” while a new tempo started a new “Blacklist.” The classic sharp-toothed submerged beasts are often the deadliest predators, lurking under dark depths ready to draw first blood.
At one point Zetro bowed his head, hands held in humble gesture thanking the crowd. It was great seeing Gary Holt slay the stage and crowd with his original brothers too. You can mosh with any band but only Waltz with Exodus and on this tour, every night, impact was imminent.
“Prescribing Horror,” opened with a cool intro giving ambiance to the dark stage. Baloff was honored on “Bonded by Blood,” while the crowd was waiting, willing and ready to go ape-shit during the fabulous “Toxic Waltz.” The second part of the nights musical exorcism concluded. The beast was back, snarling with roaring fury after two years cooped up in residential cages
The Bay Area Titans of Creation emerged ready to command their loyal Testament legions leading them through the initial march of “Children of the Next Level.” “The Pale King” ruled its kingdom snaked through blasting guitars and thunderous drums with the Native American pride and roar of Chuck Billy.
No flashy mic or mini-stand for Billy to play with that night, though he did grab a drum stick early on. “Practice What You Preach” reminded of a timeless lesson. There was no trial by fire but “The New Order” was to thrash and mosh like it’d been a minute. New cut “WWIII” cut new ground with modern day doomsday prophecy while the jangling, creepy echoes, dark heavy whispers and growls of “Eyes of Wrath” went back several records and decades along with the pummeling “Legions of the Dead.” From a mass gathering to a ritual reign “Electric Crown” grooved some mid-tempo tyranny.
“Souls of Black” continued the early ‘90s trek back in time. The Titans conjured up one more loud midnight incantation on “Night of the Witch.”
Billy called for it, with legions reacting to the pit classic by name starting the final dance. “Disciples of the Watch” ended the evenings Northern Kentucky Bay Area Attack with a sold out crowd leaving hot, sweaty and baptized, reborn in live ritual experience.
Images by Mike Ritchie
