DECEMBER 2nd, 2024
THE BATTLE OF 24
Review by Metallic Barbie
Photos by Peter Ruttan
Photo Gallery: http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/the-battle-of-24/ 

Necks were bent and brains were rattled at the Battle of ’24 tour featuring Exodus supported by Havok, Dead Heat, and Candy.  To date I can say this was one of the best shows I’ve seen in Vancouver in 2024 with non-stop pits and body smashing walls of death. 

Candy got the night going with a heavy set, paving the way for Dead Heat to generate more B.O. and sweaty man manes.  What really kicked everything into high gear was the insane set from Havok.  Who would have thought hailing from Denver, Colorado would allow for true thrash revival?  For 20 years David Sanchez (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and current Havok members Pete Webber (drums) and Nick Shendzielos (bass), with interloping touring lead guitarist Brett Rechtfertig, have ripped thrash back into our lives, most recently with their latest EP New Eyes.

This was my first experience with Havok live and I was absolutely blown away – every single dude was solid AF from slicing shreds to shredding skins woven with vexing vocals and energy befit a sugared-up toddler.  The band burst onto the stage with “Point of No Return”, hitting fan favourites from almost every album.  When the bassline pumped at the start of “Hang ‘Em High”, the room went bananas.  And that banana mentality lasted through new release “Death Is An Illusion”, “Phantom Force” and closer “From the Cradle to the Grave”.  From chugging beers to a metal alphabet sing-a-long, Havok killed it and I cannot wait to get fruity with them again.

I had the absolute pleasure of being on Lamb of God’s Headbanger’s Boat for the second year in a row, and was lucky to see Exodus perform multiple times only 4 weeks ago. It would have been a cold day in hell though before I would avoid giving myself whiplash yet again!  Its fucking Exodus: enough said!  But it’s not enough. Because you, metalhead, need to know how Exodus slaughtered that stage with a setlist extending from 1985 to present.  Steve “Zetro” Souza (lead vocals), the infamous Gary Holt (guitar), Lee Altus (guitar), Jack Gibson (bass), and Tom Hunting (drums) penetrated ear holes with opener “The Last Act of Definace”, bulldozed their way through “Blood In, Blood Out”, “Body Harvest”, Bain Dead”, “Depthamphetamine” and finished the job with “Strike of the Beast”, leaving no battlevest untattered.

Exodus, shamefully left out of the Big Four, proved their dominance through relentless and unforgiving shred from Holt and Altus, powerful bass backbones from Gibson, and stunning tub-handling by Hunting.  The humble Souza thanked Exodus singers of yore before roaring his command of the set and hypnotizing the room into yet another circle pit.

Between fist pumps and thrash-moshing, the sold-out crowd sang every word and bowed to their overlords.  There was nowhere else I would have wanted to be and am so bloody thankful these crushing gods graced our city with their presence – it’s time to sound the “Metal Command” for all things Exodus.  Keep it HEAVY!!!