Slayer

Slayer emerged from Huntington Park, California in 1981 when guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman united their vision of uncompromising extreme metal. Tom Araya's distinctive vocals and bass work, combined with Dave Lombardo's revolutionary drumming, established the foundation for what would become one of thrash metal's most influential forces. The quartet's early demos caught Metal Blade Records' attention, leading to their 1983 debut Show No Mercy.

The band's evolution from speed metal origins reached its apex with 1986's Reign in Blood, a 29-minute masterpiece that redefined extreme metal's boundaries. Producer Rick Rubin captured their raw ferocity at Hit City West studios, creating an album that influenced countless death and black metal acts. Tracks like "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" became genre-defining anthems, despite controversial subject matter that sparked widespread debate and occasional censorship.

Following Reign in Blood's impact, Slayer continued pushing extremity with South of Heaven (1988) and Seasons in the Abyss (1990), the latter marking their commercial peak while maintaining uncompromising brutality. The 1990s brought lineup changes as Dave Lombardo departed in 1992, replaced by Paul Bostaph, though Lombardo returned in 2001. Albums like Divine Intervention and Diabolus in Musica explored different facets of their aggression, the latter incorporating nu-metal elements that divided fans.

Slayer's final chapter began with 2015's Repentless on Nuclear Blast Records, following Jeff Hanneman's death in 2013. Their farewell tour cycle (2018-2019) concluded nearly four decades of extreme metal innovation. The band's legacy encompasses over 20 million albums sold worldwide, multiple Grammy nominations, and their position among thrash metal's "Big Four." Their influence permeates modern extreme metal, from technical death metal to atmospheric black metal, cementing their status as pioneers of sonic brutality.

Discography

1983 - Show No Mercy (Metal Blade Records)
1985 - Hell Awaits (Metal Blade Records)
1986 - Reign in Blood (Def Jam Recordings)
1988 - South of Heaven (Def Jam Recordings)
1990 - Seasons in the Abyss (Def Jam Recordings)
1994 - Divine Intervention (American Recordings)
1996 - Undisputed Attitude (American Recordings)
1998 - Diabolus in Musica (American Recordings)
2001 - God Hates Us All (American Recordings)
2006 - Christ Illusion (American Recordings)
2009 - World Painted Blood (American Recordings)
2015 - Repentless (Nuclear Blast Records)

Important EPs
1984 - Haunting the Chapel (Metal Blade Records)
1985 - Live Undead (Metal Blade Records)