Returning to The Trocadero, scene of one of the New Jersey thrashers' most memorable shows, when a zealous, lighter wielding fan set off the venue's sprinkler system, frying the soundboard and cancelling that show just three songs in. Honest, it really happened, almost twenty years ago, when OVERKILL guitarist Bobby Gustafson was still in the band! Despite the potentially mischievous 2010 date, no modern day shenanigans, thankfully, as the Kill kicked off their Silver Anniversary tour. Good to see some kids in the crowd, since many attendees (myself included) easily have concert Ts, tattoos and/or Birch Hill scars/stories older than those in the underage section, on the floor. Although much of the hair has been replaced by baldies, beards and bellies, it's still an OverKill audience.

Apart from a killer, old-school celebration, Blitz and DD gave the fans value for money, lining up a mini-festival of openers (WOE OF TYRANTS, EVILE, WARBRINGER, GOD DETHRONED and VADER) and the show was damn near sold out. Haven't seen that many old timers in the balcony since King Diamond was in town. Opening with the machine gunning shock and awe of 'Green & Black', 'Rotten To The Core' and 'Wrecking Crew', the band served notice this wasn't going to be the set (fairly predictable) of the last couple of tours. Metal ladders, at either side of the stage, facilitated guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer with a four foot riser, in front (and side-to-side) of drummer Ron Lipnicki. As always, the stage was bathed in green, strobes and plenty of smoke. Blitz repeatedly balanced himself atop the stage front monitors, as the crowd sang the chorus to 'Hello From The Gutter'. They continued to trot out the oldies, as 'Feel The Fire' followed. In the singers absence, Verni, Tailer and Linsk (who injected some groove into the aforementioned 'Fire') stand three abreast.

The comedic frontman says the new CD sold, "A billion copies in China, 1000 in Philly and nothing anywhere else." A bit of a stretch, but it's a different intro into the title track, 'Ironbound', complete with bluesy jam mid-section. 'Hammerhead' (and its ensuing big response) lets us all know this is really a special night, reliving the early years. 'Bare Bones' and Tailer introduced 'Over Kill I' are nice surprises, even if the latter seems a little too sped up. Blitz can still hit that shriek though! He announces 'Gasoline Dream' and promptly departs the stage. Mr Modesty (an hour into the set and he's yet to strip off his black tank top, although Tailer is already bare-chested), the sinewy singer leads a super-charged rendition of 'Bring Me The Night' and the proper set closer, 'Elimination', complete with buzzsaw guitars and crisp tin drum triggers.

As the hour approached midnight, they scurried through an encore of 'Necroshine', 'Old School' (with Ellsworth and Verni trading vocals) and, of course, the obligatory, finger waving send-off. Blitz and DD were rarely this volatile in their heyday, let alone in 2010. Don't miss them on this tour!

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