Slayer Unleash War Ensemble and Chemical Warfare at Hersheypark Stadium, September 20, 2025

On September 20, 2025, Slayer headlined Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This date was announced early in the year as the band’s only East Coast headlining concert of 2025, making it one of the most anticipated thrash metal events of the year for fans across the region.

The choice of Hersheypark Stadium as the venue emphasized the scale of the event. With capacity for tens of thousands, the stadium was suited for a lineup as heavy as this, hosting not only Slayer but also supporting acts who built momentum throughout the afternoon before Slayer took the stage.

Slayer’s lineup featured Tom Araya on vocals and bass, Kerry King and Gary Holt on guitars, and Paul Bostaph on drums. This core brought together original and longtime members who have carried the band’s reputation for decades, ensuring authenticity and intensity for their massive 2025 audience.

The show was designed as a full-day experience, beginning in the afternoon with doors opening and supporting acts performing. The atmosphere built steadily until Slayer’s set began. For many attendees, the Hershey show represented their only chance in years to see the band perform live in such a setting.

The setlist was carefully constructed and published afterward by fans. Among its highlights, the back-to-back performance of War Ensemble followed immediately by Chemical Warfare stood out as a centerpiece. This pairing has long been a trademark in Slayer concerts, and Hershey 2025 was no exception to that tradition.

War Ensemble has been one of Slayer’s defining thrash metal anthems since its release. At Hersheypark Stadium, it appeared once again, delivering the raw intensity that fans expect. Its placement deep into the setlist made it one of the most significant songs of the night for longtime followers of the band.

Directly after War Ensemble, Slayer launched into Chemical Warfare. This song, an early classic in their catalog, has been performed countless times but remains a fan favorite. Its aggressive pace and legacy in extreme metal made it a natural choice to stand alongside War Ensemble in the set.

The Hershey performance of these two tracks together confirmed that Slayer’s approach to setlist building in 2025 continued to respect their history. Rather than reshuffling their classics, they gave fans exactly what had been requested online in the months leading up to the concert.

Because this was Slayer’s only East Coast headline appearance of 2025, the presence of War Ensemble and Chemical Warfare together became more than just standard setlist entries. For many attendees, it was their only live chance to hear these iconic songs performed consecutively.

The show was also part of a larger year where Slayer had been active at major festivals, including Louder Than Life. However, the Hersheypark Stadium performance stood out precisely because it was singular—one night only, with no other headlining appearances scheduled on the East Coast that year.

For fans, the confirmation of the setlist afterward validated the anticipation. Posts on music forums and fan sites circulated with screenshots, noting the inclusion of both War Ensemble and Chemical Warfare, ensuring that Hershey 2025 would be remembered for these classics.

Tom Araya’s role in delivering vocals for both tracks underscored the continuity of Slayer’s presence. Even after decades, his delivery on these songs held weight, further cementing why these two choices remain fixtures in their live shows across generations of fans.

Kerry King and Gary Holt handled the guitars, bringing precision to the riffs that made War Ensemble and Chemical Warfare legendary. Their presence on stage, documented in photos and reports, reminded audiences that Slayer’s trademark guitar assault remained intact in 2025.

Paul Bostaph’s drumming was another verified element of the performance. Having rejoined Slayer years earlier, his contribution in Hershey ensured that the speed and aggression of these songs matched what fans remembered, providing consistency for an otherwise rare headlining appearance.

By the time Slayer finished the Hersheypark Stadium concert, the back-to-back performance of War Ensemble and Chemical Warfare had already become the most discussed highlight online. With no other East Coast headline date that year, these songs defined the night and solidified the show’s place in Slayer’s 2025 legacy.