Thrash metal icons Slayer transformed Hersheypark Stadium into a heavy metal heaven on Saturday night, delivering a blistering 20-song set at their only U.S. East Coast appearance of 2025. The one-off event was a monumental celebration of heavy music, featuring a festival-caliber support lineup and a special hosting appearance by WWE superstar Damian Priest.
The legendary quartet—Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt, and Paul Bostaph—tore through a career-spanning set that served as a masterclass in thrash. Kicking off with the ominous opening of “South of Heaven,” the band delivered a relentless assault of classics, including “War Ensemble,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Seasons in the Abyss,” and a closing one-two punch of “Raining Blood” and “Angel of Death.”
The night was a unique celebration of the crossover between heavy metal and professional wrestling. The show’s host, WWE’s Damian Priest, is a lifelong Slayer fan whose signature finishing move is named “South of Heaven.” The connection runs even deeper, as guitarist Kerry King recently contributed to Priest‘s official theme song, “Rise For The Night.”
Adding to the event’s festival atmosphere was a powerhouse undercard of multi-generational heavy music. The lineup featured modern hardcore titans Knocked Loose, crossover legends Suicidal Tendencies, and acclaimed thrash revivalists Power Trip. In a special treat for fans, the bill also included two “classic album” performances: Cavalera performed Sepultura‘s landmark 1993 album Chaos A.D. in its entirety, and fellow thrash pioneers Exodus delivered their iconic 1985 debut, Bonded By Blood.
Slayer Setlist – September 20, 2025 – Hershey, PA:
- “South of Heaven”
- “Repentless”
- “Disciple”
- “Die by the Sword”
- “J*had”
- “War Ensemble”
- “Chemical Warfare”
- “Reborn”
- “Mandatory Su*cide”
- “Born of Fire”
- “Dead Skin Mask”
- “Spirit in Black”
- “Hate Worldwide”
- “Seasons in the Abyss”
- “Hell Awaits”
- “213”
- “Postmortem”
- “Raining Blood”
- “Black Magic”
- “Angel of Death”
