SLAYER brought their trademark ferocity to BLACK SABBATH’s farewell “Back To The Beginning” concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK — and surprised fans with a blistering cover of “Wicked World,” a deep cut from SABBATH’s 1970 self-titled debut.
Taking the stage at 6:44 p.m., the thrash legends paid tribute to the very band that made metal possible. SLAYER’s version of “Wicked World” was raw, intense, and thunderous — perfectly aligning with the song’s gritty lyrics and rebellious spirit.
SLAYER’s set was one of the heaviest of the night, bridging first-wave doom with the breakneck speed of thrash metal. Their choice of “Wicked World” — a less obvious SABBATH pick — showed their deep respect for the band’s entire catalog, not just the hits.
The performance fit perfectly in the lead-up to GUNS N’ ROSES, METALLICA, and the emotional finale with Ozzy Osbourne and the reunited original BLACK SABBATH lineup.
Relive the Full Day of Tributes
SLAYER’s cover of “Wicked World” is just one of many unforgettable tributes at the event. Don’t miss:
- TOOL performing “Hand Of Doom”
- LAMB OF GOD performing “Children Of The Grave”
- ALICE IN CHAINS covering “Fairies Wear Boots”
- ANTHRAX tearing into “Into The Void”
- HALESTORM honoring Ozzy with “Perry Mason”
- A supergroup of Jake E. Lee, Mike Bordin, David Ellefson, Adam Wakeman, and David Draiman performing “Shot In The Dark”
- Another all-star lineup featuring Papa V Perpetua, Nuno Bettencourt, Vernon Reid, Rudy Sarzo, and Travis Barker crushing “Bark At The Moon”
- And of course, Jason Momoa jumping into the pit during PANTERA’s performance of “Cowboys From Hell”
We’ll continue updating MetalAddicts.com with more footage and reactions from this historic celebration of the band that started it all.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.