Slayer + Anthrax New Zealand Shows Announced

True icons of heavy metal Slayer are hitting Aotearoa in March as part of their Final World Tour, bringing with them NYC thrash trailblazers Anthrax for crucial events in Auckland and Christchurch. Practically a household name, Slayer are revered internationally for the face-melting frenzied riffage of such indisputable classics as their 1986 album Reign In Blood, they are indisputably one of the most impactful bands to blast through the hallowed halls of metal history. No lightweights themselves, Anthrax have left an indelible mark with such cacophonous anthems as 1985's 'Madhouse' and their massively influential collaboration with Public Enemy 'Bring The Noize'. This will be your last chance to experience Slayer in the flesh as the titanic team of Tom Araya, Paul Bostaph, Kerry King, and Gary Holt are pulling the plug on the Grammy Award-winning, multi-million record selling band. Here are the details...

Slayer with special guests Anthrax

Friday 15th March – Eventfinda Stadium (formerly North Shore Event Centre), Auckland
Sunday 17th March – Horncastle Arena, Christchurch

General public on sale 7.00pm, Tuesday 4th December

Here's Slayer's pivotal 1986 single "Reigning Blood'...

Watch the twisted vintage clip for Anthrax's 'Madhouse'...

Press release:

The long-reigning titans of thrash, Slayer, are stopping over in New Zealand for one final hurrah and they’re bringing metal kings Anthrax along for the ride.

Slayer left fans devastated earlier this year with news that they were calling it a day. But as a parting shot, they also announced their ‘Final World Tour’.

Presented by Storm The Gates, the band have now just confirmed the world tour will include shows at Auckland, Eventfinda Stadium (formerly North Shore Event Centre) on March 15 and Christchurch, Horncastle Arena on March 17.

After almost four decades, Slayer remains one of the most influential bands in heavy metal. Their unmistakable, game-changing style of punk-thrash and frenzied live shows have seen them maintain dominance in the scene alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax or the ‘Big Four’ as the bands are commonly referred to.

Slayer’s reign resulted in 12 studio albums, thousands of live shows in every corner of the globe and five Grammy Award nominations, with two wins - one for ‘best song’ in 2007 with ‘Eyes of the Insane’ and another for the song ‘Final Six’ in 2008 (both from 2006’s critically acclaimed album CHRIST ILLUSION). Between 1991 and 2013, The band sold a whopping five million albums in the United States alone!

Now New Zealanders will get their chance farewell the legends in the flesh and pay homage to the men behind the music - Tom Araya on vocals, Paul Bostaph on drums, Kerry King and Gary Holt on guitars - as they bow out at the top of their game.

Supporting Slayer will be their fellow ‘Big Four’ pals, the mighty Anthrax.

Formed in New York in 1981, Anthrax went on to sell over ten million records and in doing so became the living embodiment of America’s hi-top wearing, riff-spitting, ear-thrashing answer to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal

The band has 11 studio albums to their name, including 1985’s SPREADING THE DISEASE, 1987’s AMONG THE LIVING and their most recent studio recording, 2016’s FOR ALL THE KINGS - an album that’s as ferocious as it is sublime.

Anthrax has become accustomed to seeing their name in lights alongside Slayer and bassist Frank Bello says it has always been a potent reminder of how far they’ve come.

So it is entirely appropriate that Anthrax should be joining Slayer (two of the ‘Big Four’) at Auckland’s Eventfinda Stadium and Horncastle Arena for one final blow out.

This will be a show unlike none that have been before. It is a chance for Kiwi rock fans to salute their heroes in style. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on tickets!