See Slayer and Machine Head Cover Venom's "Witching Hour" in 1995 | Revolver

See Slayer and Machine Head Cover Venom's "Witching Hour" in 1995

Robb Flynn joins thrash heroes onstage for crushing take on black-metal classic

In 1995, Slayer were out on tour with a fast-rising band called Machine Head, who had just released their crushing debut, Burn My Eyes, one year earlier via Roadrunner Records. It wouldn't take very long for Machine Head to become one of the most respected bands in metal writ large, but at the time, they were still relative up-and-comers with something to prove. Therefore, it was a pretty massive big-up on Slayer's part to invite Machine Head main man Robb Flynn onstage to perform a totally ripping cover of Venom's "Witching Hour" during a show in Arizona. 

Given that Flynn played in the Bay Area thrash band Vio-lence prior to Machine Head, and Venom were an enormous influence on Slayer, all of the guys onstage obviously have a deep reverence for the 1981 classic, and seeing how fucking stoked they are to be ripping through it together gives off an energy that only this particular grouping of musicians could provide. Tom Araya's whipping his hair around like a madman and beaming with joy while he watches Flynn holler the vocals with primal force, and Kerry King cuts into a blistering solo at one point that's nothing short of marvelous. 

Fortunately, a pro camera crew was there to capture it all as it went down, so you can experience the moment like you're (almost) right there in the crowd by watching above via YouTube.