Here’s what Slayer played at their first live gig in five years

Slayer performed their first live gig in nearly five years yesterday (September 22) – check out the full setlist below.

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Back in 2019 the thrash metal titans announced their retirement and marked the end of their near-four decade career with a lengthy farewell world tour.

However, Slayer’s unlikely return was confirmed earlier this year when it was revealed that they’d be headlining two September festivals – Riot Fest in Chicago (22) and Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky (27).

The band are also due to perform at Aftershock Festival in California on October 10, alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Mötley Crüe.

The band’s last live gig was at The Forum in Inglewood, California on November 30, 2019, making their festival performance this weekend their first in nearly five years.

The group played a string of favourites at the Chicago fest including ‘Raining Blood’, ‘Angel Of Death’ and ‘South Of Heaven’ throughout their 20-song headlining set.

Slayer’s full setlist at Riot Fest 2024 was:

‘Delusions of Saviour’ (shortened)
‘South of Heaven’
‘Reborn’
‘Blood Red’
‘Postmortem’
‘Repentless’
‘Payback’
‘Temptation’
‘Jihad’
‘Seasons in the Abyss’
‘Born of Fire’
‘War Ensemble’
‘Hate Worldwide’
‘Disciple’
‘Dead Skin Mask’
‘Hell Awaits’
‘213’
‘Mandatory Suicide’
‘Raining Blood’
‘Black Magic’
‘Angel of Death’

Any chances of a Slayer reunion appeared slim after Kerry King announced a solo album just weeks before revealing their comeback performances. The musician had previously described the new project as “an extension of Slayer”.

“Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans,” Tom Araya said in a statement about their festival shows (via Revolver). “And to be honest, we have missed that.”

King added: “Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. Slayer means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them.”

The guitarist previously expressed regret over the end of Slayer, admitting in 2021 that he thinks they “quit too early”.

In June however, King did insist that Slayer “will never tour again”. Following the reunion shows announcement, he also told Classic Rock History: “Don’t get used to this being a yearly event.”