Anthrax, Kreator and Testament at Hammersmith Apollo, London 2024

Despite the raging stormy weather outside, train cancellations, and numerous travel disruptions, Anthrax, Kreator, and Testament gathered London’s Metalheads at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Fans were visibly pumped to witness these legendary bands perform in succession that evening. For many, this concert was a standout event of the year. Thrashers of all ages were in attendance—ranging from families with kids to OG veteran metalheads who likely saw these bands back in the ’80s. The venue was packed to the brim, with nearly every seat and standing spot occupied. This European tour spans 18 thrilling dates across the British Isles (now concluded) and mainland Europe. Don’t miss your chance—snag your tickets while they’re still available and check our live review below:

Testament Set Review

Testament is such a monumental band that it’s rude to call them a warm-up act. Their entrance, following the unmistakable sound of the Beastie Boys, kicked the night off beautifully—everyone was more than ready to party. From the first song, pyro effects paired with stunning light designs amplified every riff and breakdown. The sound was fast, stirring the entire venue into motion. It took a few songs to get people moshing hard, but by the seventh track, beers were downed, and the pits raged. Testament’s 11-song setlist was packed with their biggest hits, spanning from their classic ’80s albums to some more recent releases with heavy hitters like “Into the Pit”, “D.N.R.”, and my personal favourite, “Low”—which was released the same year I was born. “Return to Serenity”, their beautiful ballad and the only one of the night, which returned to their set after almost 30 years, hit the spot, filling my ‘90s metal ballad cup. I love a slower song at a thrash concert—it gives you a chance to catch your breath between moshpits, share a quick hug with your mates, and gear up for more shoving and chaos. No Testament show is complete without Alex Skolnick’s delicious guitar solos and I’d bet good money that most people at the Apollo have at least once tried to air-guitar those in their lives.

Kreator Set Review

Kreator was on fire—both metaphorically and literally—burning as hot as hell. Their show unravelled like a matryoshka doll, with every song in their set revealing another layer of their intricate stage design. That said, little Birds told me that the venue only allowed 60% of what the tour originally planned for each performance. While I did feel a bit short-changed, my ADHD was already getting enough dopamine hits to keep me entertained.

We got everything we didn’t even realize we needed: copious amounts of pyro, confetti cannons, massive inflatable demons, impaled and hanged mannequins, more pyro, even more pyro, and flames, more flames—all paired with a killer lighting design. Whether standing or seated, people were going wild. Fists were pumping, circle pits formed, walls of death collided—Kreator carried us all into a state of pure ecstasy.

I’ve seen Kreator a couple of times before, but it’s always fun to sing “Satan is Real” with thousands of people. When Mille Petrozza called for a London-style wave pit, the crowd lost their mind. Fans were throwing themselves into wave after wave, flooding towards the stage—sometimes five at a time, sometimes more. It was like that scene in World War Z where zombies pile on top of each other. The band’s performance was phenomenal. They sounded epic in scale and tight in execution. Did I mention they had Pyro? Because there was so. Much. Fucking. Pyro.

Anthrax Set Review

When a giant image of Stephen King appears on the screen saying, “Fucking Anthrax, rock on you sons of bitches,” you know you’re in for something special—and you comply with the instructions. Compared to Kreator’s fiery shenanigans, Anthrax’s set had an almost “unplugged” vibe to it. But don’t be fooled—they were just as loud, if not louder. Performing under their signature acid green and yellow lights, the band took us on an unforgettable journey through their discography. The crowd sang along at every opportunity. Joey Belladonna was the ultimate showman, running up and down the stage like a conductor of a thrash metal orchestra. He made sure everyone was having a good time—checking in with the drummer, hyping up the front row, and even high-fiving fans being dragged over the front barriers after crowd-surfing. Joey was everywhere, making sure the Madhouse stayed wild.

Keeping the energy high wasn’t a problem for Anthrax. Fans in the pit bounced and crashed into one another for the duration of the entire set. Even up in the stalls, where I was seated, people couldn’t contain themselves. Metalheads kept springing out of their seats, whipping their hair before collapsing back into their chairs. The nostalgia was real, too. The band reflected on their legendary 1986 tour with Metallica, confirming the UK’s undeniable appetite for Thrash Metal. Alongside Anthrax’s classic setlist, we were treated to a couple of covers: “Got the Time” by Joe Jackson and “Antisocial” by Trust. The encore came in blasting straight from the ’80s, closing with the rarely performed “Gung-Ho”. The band’s energy was that of the youngsters that performed their first gigs in some shady dive bars and combined with the wisdom of their 43-year-old career on stage left the fans going home with big smiles on their faces. 

Artists: Anthrax, Kreator, testament