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On tour throughout North America, with Sabaton, the legendary Germans are essentially playing to a new, much younger, audience. Beneath a backdrop of the artwork for Gods Of Violence, which adorned the album everywhere, but in North America (we are apparently unable to see half naked bodies, thus the alternate cover), the Teutonic thrashers offered a virtual Greatest Hits set, peppered with a couple from the aforementioned disc.

"Phantom Antichrist" is a storming opener and somewhat surprisingly, fans were singing along: not crowd surfing, moshing, but singing! "Enemy Of God" remains one of my two favorites since Petrozza reunited with drummer Jürgen Rei. The other, "Violent Revolution", was reserved for the encore, bathed in green lights. The "show" was all about lighting. For "Satan Is Real", multiple white lights targeted Ventor's drum nest. Otherwise the stage was appropriately drenched in red, for that song. Relentless barrage of strobes throughout the show, as Mille repeatedly called for a circle pit. Blue/green lit and strobe augmented "People Of The Lie" preceded "Flag Of Hate", Petrozza, guitar slung over his shoulder, the headstock nearly scraping on the floor, actually unfurled the namesake banner. When he's not singing, the guitarist is hunched over, headbanging and venturing to the front of the stage. "Phobia" begins with Petrozza alone, stage right, then he walks to his usual center stage mic. The newest title track, "Gods Of Violence" is more vicious than most death metal acts. "Pleasure To Kill" finale begins with unlit stage, apart from rapid fire strobes illuminating the drum kit. Brutal!