Slayer @ Carling Academy, Glasgow, 3 Nov

The air outside is terrifyingly freezing but the atmosphere inside the Academy tonight is hotter than all hell - perfect conditions for such monstrous metal icons. With the disappointing 11th hour withdrawl of Mastodon, tonight is  - from start to finish - a point-blank demonstration of why Slayer are still a force to be reckoned with. Although  frontman Tom Araya occasionally stops to politely thank the crowd, this is on the whole a bone-crushing, ear-melting assault, backed up by a perfectly honed light show which amplifies the venom and sheer demonic presence of the band. Solos are traded off with flawless, squealing precision and the drums are battered as if they're being cracked with Thor's hammer. Everybody impulsively bangs their head in unison. After a good hour of merciless thrashing, red spotlights scour the crowd as the band prepare a powerful climax of Raining Blood, South Of Heaven and Angel Of Death - all back to back - to ensure that Glasgow is left a decimated ruin. [Ryan Drever[