Two decades have passed since thrash metal fans first discovered the camaraderie that exists within their beloved genre. This sense of belonging and brotherhood is more genuine than ever, particularly in the world of thrash metal. In recent years, it has become a common practice for thriving bands to bring fellow veterans along on tour. A perfect example of this was last year's Exodus tour with Exumer and Hirax. Fast forward to this autumn, Europe will be treated to the ultimate display of thrash metal solidarity in the form of 'Thrash Of The Titans,' co-headlined by Testament and death metal stalwarts Obituary. Joining them on this epic journey are thrash metal giants Destruction and Nervosa.

Nervosa kicked off the evening with an infectious performance, showcasing the band's ability to blend their latest album's focused material with long-standing crowd-pleasers. Guitarist Helena Kotina brought a breath of fresh air to the group's sound, further igniting their music. The setlist featured tracks from 'Jailbreak,' as well as fan-favorite material from albums such as 'Kill The Silence' and 'Perpetual Chaos.'

The crowd was electrified throughout Nervosa's set, with fans and non-fans alike united in their love for the music. A man dressed in full Elmo costume took to the pit, and crowd-surfing ensued. This marked one of many standout performances from this particular band. For those who have been following Nervosa since their debut album released years ago, they undoubtedly delivered the best show yet from the quartet.

Nervosa's high-energy performance was followed by Destruction, a true behemoth of thrash metal. With an impressive 30-year legacy spanning numerous classic albums and timeless anthems like 'Curse The Gods' and 'Nailed To The Cross,' one can still argue that this German powerhouse remains the gold standard for live performances. Destruction's energy was unmatched, delivering devastating live renditions of some older tracks and showcasing material from their latest album, 'Birth Of Malice.'

Following Nervosa were death metal icons Obituary, who stood out amidst the tour lineup through a few unexpected choices. Nonetheless, fans of thrash would be aware of how pivotal role bands like Possessed played in forming death metal and Obituary's own repertoire features these key elements. With their unmistakable guitar tone perfectly translating to their live show, they were able to deliver their set with minimal errors. Obituary showcased a plethora of songs spanning various periods of their career.

Last but not least was the Bay Area legends Testament, who proved why they deserve sharing the stages with some of the most prominent metal acts in recent years. Testament made great use of the recent opening tour to further enhance their reputation as one of thrash metal's biggest players. Chuck and Alex Skolnick demonstrated why their partnership has allowed for decades of memorable performances at every show. The band effectively picked a mix of songs both from past tours, newer ones such as 'WWII' from 'Titans Of Creation' and fan-favorite classics like 'Practice What You Preach.'

The set concluded with the incredible bombastic opening track by Testament's new album 'Para Bellum', alongside classic tracks, ultimately solidifying their place among metal's greatest. Despite past minor mishaps, Testament continues to demonstrate remarkable skill at performing and soundscaping through every performance.