Slayer @ Barrowlands, 27 May

After multiple postponements, Slayer finally navigate their murder machine back to Scotland, with a mended Tom Araya out in front to set the record straight: “It was neck surgery – not back surgery – NECK surgery.”

Point taken. Their concerts are always a ceremony of sorts, a multi-generational public ritual that acknowledges our shared affinity as metalheads. Plus they fucking shred. Newer material from World Painted Blood kicks things off, but then the “hits” roll out one after the other. Rhythm exorcist Dave Lombardo is jaw-droppingly on-the-money as usual, while both Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman carpet bomb with unexpectedly psychedelic guitar solos that have never sounded more atonal and abstract.

No-frills thrash melds with a singular stance that persistently spits on blind allegiance to any god or government: this sound is theirs and theirs alone. Thank you, Slayer: we’ll never tire of being reminded that death is the only thing that’s real. [Eric Ledford]