Everything about Slayer totally explained
Slayer is an American
thrash metal band founded by
guitarists
Jeff Hanneman and
Kerry King in 1981. The band is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal bands, along with
Metallica,
Anthrax, and
Megadeth.
Slayer is known for its musical traits, involving fast
tremolo picking,
guitar solos,
double bass drumming, and shouting vocals. The band's lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as death, deviants,
genocide,
necrophillia, insanity, religion,
Satanism,
serial killers, and
warfare have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits and strong criticism from religious groups and the general public.
Since its debut record in 1983, the band has released two
live albums, one
box set, three DVDs, one VHS, two
EPs, and ten albums, four of which have received gold
certification in the United States. The band has received three
Grammy nominations, winning one in 2007 for the song "
Eyes of the Insane", and one in 2008 for the song "Final Six". They have headlined music festivals worldwide, including
Ozzfest and
The Unholy Alliance.
History
Early days (1981–1982)
Slayer formed in 1981, when guitarist
Kerry King met
Jeff Hanneman while auditioning for a band. The two recruited bassist and vocalist
Tom Araya, who had played with King in a previous band. Drummer
Dave Lombardo was recruited when he met King delivering a pizza.
The band was offered to open for
Bitch at the Woodstock Club in
Los Angeles, performing eight songs — six being
covers. While performing Iron Maiden's "
Phantom of the Opera" the band was spotted by
Brian Slagel, a former
music journalist who had recently founded
Metal Blade Records. Impressed with Slayer's performance, Slagel met with the band backstage and asked them to record an original song, "Aggressive Perfector" for his upcoming
Metal Massacre III compilation. The band agreed and the song created underground buzz, which led to Slagel offering the band a
recording contract with Metal Blade.
Show No Mercy (1983–1984)
Without a recording budget, the band was forced to self-finance its debut album. Combining the savings of Araya, who was employed as a
respiratory therapist, and money borrowed from King's father, the band entered the studio in November 1983. The album was rushed into release, hitting shelves three weeks after tracks were completed.
Show No Mercy, released in December 1983 by Metal Blade Records, generated underground popularity for the band, and they began their first national club tour in 1984 to promote the album traveling in Araya's
Camaro towing a
U-Haul trailer. The opening track, "Chemical Warfare," has become a live staple, played at nearly every show since 1984. After the release of
Haunting the Chapel, Slayer made its live European debut at the
Heavy Sounds Festival in
Belgium opening for
UFO, returning to the US to begin the
Haunting The West Coast tour.
Following the tour, King temporarily left Slayer to join
Dave Mustaine's new band
Megadeth. Hanneman was worried about King's decision, stating in an interview "I guess we’re gonna get a new guitar player". Following King's return, the band embarked on the
1984 Combat Tour, with
Venom and
Exodus, and released a
live album titled
Live Undead in November.
Hell Awaits (1985–1986)
Slayer released its first live
home video in 1985, dubbed
Combat Tour: The Ultimate Revenge. The video featured live footage filmed at
New York's
Studio 54 club, on the band's 1984 tour with Venom and Exodus. By early 1985,
Show No Mercy had sold over 40,000 copies, and the band's first album certified gold in the United States. and the second album to receive gold certification in the United States. Press response to the album was mixed, with
All Music Guide citing the album as "disturbing and powerful", and
Rolling Stone calling it "genuinely offensive satanic drivel".
King says "that album was my most lackluster performance," although Araya called it a "late bloomer" which eventually grew on people.
Seasons in the Abyss, released in October 1990, was the first Slayer album to be released under Rubin's new
Def American label, as he parted ways with Def Jam owner
Russell Simmons over creative differences. The album debuted at #44 on the Billboard 200, Lombardo formed his own band
Grip Inc, with
Voodoocult guitarist
Waldemar Sorychta, and Slayer recruited former
Forbidden drummer
Paul Bostaph to fill his place.
Slayer made its debut appearance with Bostaph at the 1992
Monsters of Rock festival at
Castle Donington. Bostaph's first studio effort was a medley of three
Exploited songs, "War", "UK '82", and "Disorder", with rapper
Ice-T, for the
Judgment Night movie soundtrack in 1993.
Divine Intervention (1994–1995)
In 1994 Slayer released
Divine Intervention, the band's first record with drummer Bostaph. The record became the band's highest charting at that time, debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200.
Slayer geared up for a world tour in 1995, with openers
Biohazard and
Machine Head. A video of concert footage,
Live Intrusion was released, featuring a joint
cover of
Venom's "Witching Hour" with Machine Head. Relations between Slayer and Machine Head have since badly deteriorated. Following the tour, Slayer were billed fourth at the 1995
Monsters of Rock festival, headlined by
Metallica.
Also in the year 1994, Kerry King had his first and only child, Shyanne Kymberlee King.
Undisputed Attitude (1996–1997)
In 1996,
Undisputed Attitude, an album of
punk covers, was released. The band covered songs by
Minor Threat,
T.S.O.L.,
D.R.I.,
D.I.,
Verbal Abuse,
Dr. Know and
The Stooges. The album featured three original tracks, "Gemini", "Can't Stand You", "Ddamm"; the latter two were written by Hanneman in 1984–1985 for a side project entitled Pap Smear. Bostaph left Slayer shortly after the album's release to work on his own project, The Truth about Seafood. With Bostaph's departure, Slayer recruited
Testament drummer
Jon Dette, and headlined the 1996 Ozzfest alongside
Ozzy Osbourne,
Danzig,
Biohazard,
Sepultura, and
Fear Factory. Dette was fired after a year, due to a fallout with band members; Bostaph returned to continue the tour.
A lawsuit was brought against the band in 1996, by the parents of
Elyse Pahler, who accused the band of encouraging their daughter's murderers through their lyrics. and "none of the vicious crimes committed against Elyse Marie Pahler would have occurred without the intentional marketing strategy of the death-metal band Slayer". The lawsuit was dismissed in 2001, for multiple reasons including "principles of free speech, lack of a duty and lack of foreseeability".
Diabolus in Musica (1998–2000)
Diabolus in Musica (Latin for "The Devil in Music") was released in 1998, and debuted at #31 on the Billboard 200, selling over 46,000 copies.
The album received a mixed critical reception and was criticized for adopting characteristics of
nu-metal music such as tuned down guitars, murky chord structures, and churning beats.
Blabbermouth.net reviewer Borijov Krgin described the album as "a feeble attempt at incorporating updated elements into the group's sound, the presence of which elevated the band's efforts somewhat and offered hope that Slayer could refrain from endlessly rehashing their previous material for their future output.", while New York Time's Ben Ratliff had similar sentiments by saying "eight of the 11 songs on
Diabolus in Musica, a few of which were played at the show, are in the same gray key". However, Adrien Begrand of
PopMatters said the songs "Bitter Peace", "Death's Head", and "Stain of Mind"; "blow away anything that young pretenders like
Slipknot have put out."
The album was the band's first with dropped tuning, as featured on the lead track, "Bitter Peace", making use of the musical interval referred to in the Middle Ages as the
tritone or Devil's scale. Slayer teamed up with
digital hardcore group
Atari Teenage Riot to record a song for the
Spawn soundtrack titled "No Remorse (I Wanna Die)". The band later paid tribute to
Black Sabbath by recording a cover of "Hand of Doom" for the second of two tribute albums, entitled
Nativity in Black II. A world tour followed to support the new album, with Slayer making an appearance at the United Kingdom
Ozzfest 1998 alongside
Black Sabbath,
Ozzy Osbourne,
Foo Fighters,
Pantera,
Soulfly,
Fear Factory, and
Therapy?.
God Hates Us All (2001–2005)
After delays regarding remixing and artwork, including slip covers created to cover the original artwork as it was deemed "too graphic",
God Hates Us All was released on
September 11, 2001. The band received its first
Grammy nomination for the lead track "Disciple", although the Grammy was awarded to
Tool, for "Schism".
The September 11th attack on America jeopardized the 2001 European tour
Tattoo the Planet originally set to feature
Pantera,
Static X,
Biohazard and
Vision of Disorder. Dates were canceled or postponed due to flight restrictions, with a majority of bands deciding to withdraw, leaving Slayer and Static X remaining for the European leg of the tour.
Pantera, Vision of Disorder and Biohazard were replaced by
Cradle of Filth and other bands dependent on location;
Amorphis,
In Flames,
Moonspell,
Children of Bodom, and
Necrodeath. The Birmingham, England date on the tour though only featured Slayer, Biohazard, Cradle of Filth and Raging Speedhorn due to Static X pulling out over previous commitments, instead playing their scheduled dates in Germany. Drummer Bostaph left Slayer before Christmas in 2001, due to a chronic elbow injury which would hinder his ability to play. Slayer's "God Hates Us All" tour was unfinished so King contacted original drummer Lombardo, and asked if he'd like to finish the remainder of the tour. Lombardo accepted the offer, and stayed as a permanent member.
Christ Illusion (2006–present)
The album
Christ Illusion was originally scheduled for release on
June 6,
2006, and would be the first album with original drummer Lombardo since 1990's
Seasons in the Abyss. However, the band decided to delay the release of the record as they didn't want to be among the many, according to King, "half-ass, stupid fucking loser bands" releasing records on June 6, although
USA Today reported the idea was thwarted because the band failed to secure sufficient studio recording time. Instead, Slayer released
Eternal Pyre on June 6 as a limited-edition
EP.
Eternal Pyre featured the song "Cult", a live performance of "War Ensemble" in Germany, video footage of the band recording "Cult", and a five minute video of a Slayer fan carving the band's name onto his forearm. Five thousand copies were released and sold exclusively through
Hot Topic chain stores, and sold out within hours of release. On
June 30,
Nuclear Blast Records released a 7" vinyl picture disc version limited to a thousand copies.
Christ Illusion was released on
August 8,
2006, and debuted at #5 on the
Billboard 200, selling over 62,000 copies in its first week. The album became Slayer's highest charting, improving on its previous highest charting album,
Divine Intervention, which had debuted at #8. However, despite its high positioning, the album dropped to #44 in the following week. Three weeks after the album's release Slayer were inducted into the
Kerrang! Hall of Fame for their influence to the heavy metal scene.
A worldwide tour dubbed
The Unholy Alliance, was undertaken to support the new record. The tour was originally set to launch on
June 6, but was postponed to
June 10, as Araya had to undergo
gall bladder surgery.
In Flames,
Mastodon,
Children of Bodom,
Lamb of God, and
Thine Eyes Bleed (featuring Araya's brother,
Johnny) were supporting Slayer. The tour made its way through America and Europe and the bands who participated, apart from Thine Eyes Bleed, reunited to perform at
Japan's Loud Park Festival on
October 15,
2006.
The video for the album's first single, "
Eyes of the Insane", was released on
October 30,
2006. The track was featured on the
Saw III soundtrack, and won a Grammy-award for "
Best Metal Performance" at the 49th Grammy Awards, although the band were unable to attend due to touring obligations. A week later, the band visited the 52nd Services Squadron located on the Spangdahlem U.S. Air Force Base in
Germany to meet and play a show. This was the first visit ever to a military base for the band. The band made its first
network TV appearance on the show
Jimmy Kimmel Live! on
January 19, playing the song "Eyes of the Insane", and four additional songs for fans after the show (although footage from "
Jihad" was cut due to its controversial lyrical themes). Slayer toured Australia and New Zealand in April with Mastodon, and appeared at the
Download Festival,
Rock Am Ring, and a Summer tour with
Marilyn Manson and
Bleeding Through.
The band released a special edition of
Christ Illusion, which featured new cover art and bonus track, "Final Six", which was given a
Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance". This is the band's second consecutive award in that category. In an interview with
Worcester magazine, Araya states uncertainty with the future of the band, and that he couldn't see himself continuing the career at a later age. Araya also stated that when the band finished their
next record, which will be the final one in their contract, the band would have to "sit down and discuss the future.". In an interview with Yebo TV, Hanneman stated he's begun writing three songs for the next album. Author Joel McIver is adding the finishing touches to a 400-page hardback Slayer biography titled
The Bloody Reign of Slayer, which will be available in June 2008.
Influence
Slayer is credited as one of the “Big four” thrash metal bands along with
Megadeth,
Anthrax and
Metallica, all of which rose to fame in the early 1980s. Many groups of these genres made many tribute discs in their honour, like
Slatanic Slaughter 1 & 2 and
Gateway to Hell. Slayer seems to have influenced also on many modern
hardcore punk bands. Many of them made a tribute called
"Covered in Blood", which contain covers of all
Reign in Blood songs. "Their downtuned rhythms, infectious guitar licks, graphically violent lyrics and grisly artwork set the standard for dozens of emerging thrash bands." and "Slayer's music was directly responsible for the rise of death metal" states
MTV, ranking Slayer as the sixth "greatest metal band of all time," also ranking number 50 on
VH1's
100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
Hanneman and King ranked number 10 in
Guitar World's "100 greatest metal guitarists of all time" in 2004, and were voted "Best Guitarist/Guitar Team" in
Revolver's reader's poll. Lombardo was also voted "Best Drummer" and the band entered the top five in the categories "Best Band Ever," "Best Live Band," "Album of the Year" (for
Christ Illusion), and "Band of the Year."
The band's 1986 release,
Reign in Blood has been an influence to extreme and thrash metal bands since its release. The album was hailed the "heaviest album of all time" by
Kerrang! Magazine, and a "stone-cold classic upon its release" by
All Music Guide. In 2006 it was named the best metal album of the last 20 years by
Metal Hammer.
Richard Christy, former member of
Death was blown away by Dave's performance on the album
Reign in Blood, as was
Cannibal Corpse drummer
Paul Mazurkiewicz.
Drummer Lombardo has been an influence on many modern metal drummers including
Ray Herrera of
Fear Factory,
Pete Sandoval of
Morbid Angel,
Bård Faust (ex
Emperor and now of
Blood Tsunami) former
Cradle of Filth drummer
Adrian Erlandsson, and
Krisiun drummer
Max Kolesne. Patrick Grün of
Caliban's inspiration to play drums came from Lombardo, with
Jason Bittner of
Shadows Fall inspired by Lombardo's double bass, utilizing double bass when starting his own music career.
Style
Early works were praised for their "breakneck speed and instrumental prowess," combining the structure of
hardcore tempos and
speed metal the band released fast, aggressive material. The album
Diabolus in Musica was the band's first with
drop D tuning,
God Hates Us All the first with drop B tuning - utilizing
seven-string guitars.
All Music Guide cited the album as "abandoning the extravagancies and accessibility of their late-'80s/early-'90s work and returning to perfect the raw approach", with some fans labeling it
nu-metal.
Hanneman’s and King’s dual
guitar solos have been called "wildly chaotic," Drummer Lombardo uses two bass drums, instead of the
double kick which is used on a single bass drum. Lombardo's speed and aggression earned him the title of the “godfather of double bass” by Drummerworld. Lombardo states his reasons for using two bass drums: "When you hit the bass drum the head is still resonating. When you hit it in the same place right after that you kinda get a 'slapback' from the bass drum head hitting the other pedal. You're not letting them breathe." When playing the double bass Lombardo uses the "heel-up" technique.
Writing lyrics and music
Hanneman, King and Araya contribute to the band's lyrics, and Lombardo, King and Hanneman create the music, with assistance from Araya.
When writing new material the band writes the music before incorporating lyrics. King or Hanneman will use a
24-track and
drum machine to show band members the riff they've created, and to get their opinion. Either King, Hanneman or Lombardo will mention if any alterations can be made. The band will play the riff to get the basic song structure, and figure out where the lyrics and solos will be placed. The lyrics of "Angel of Death" were inspired by the acts of
Josef Mengele, the doctor who conducted
human experiments on Jewish and Romani (gypsy) prisoners during
World War II at the
Auschwitz concentration camp, and was dubbed the "Angel of Death" by inmates. Throughout their career, the band members were asked about these accusations, and have stated numerous times they don't condone Nazism, and are merely interested in the subject.
Slayer's cover of
Minor Threat's "Guilty of Being White" raised questions about a possible message of
white supremacy in the band's music. The controversy surrounding the cover involved the changing of the refrain "guilty of being white" to "guilty of being right," at the song's ending. This incensed Minor Threat frontman
Ian MacKaye, who stated "that is so offensive to me." King said it was changed for "tongue-in-cheek" humor as he thought the racism at the time was "ridiculous".
In a 2004 interview with Araya, when asked, "Did critics realize you were wallowing in parody?", Araya replied, "No. People thought we were serious!...back then you'd that
PMRC, who literally took everything to heart, when in actuality you're trying to create an image. You're trying to scare people on purpose". Araya also denied rumors that Slayer members are
Satanists, but they find the subject of Satanism interesting and "we are all on this planet to learn and experience".
The song "
Jihad" of the album
Christ Illusion sparked controversy among families of the
September 11 victims. The song deals with the attack from the perspective of a religious terrorist. The band stated the song is spoken through perspective without being sympathetic to the cause, and supports neither side. All seventeen benches were removed.
In
India, the album was recalled by
EMI India after protests with
Christian religious groups due to the nature of the graphic artwork. The album cover was designed by Slayer's longtime collaborator
Larry Carroll and features Christ in a "sea of despair", while having amputated arms, missing an eye, while standing in a sea of blood with severed heads. Joseph Dias of the Mumbai Christian group
Catholic Secular Forum in India took "strong exception" to the original album artwork, and issued a memorandum to Mumbai's police commissioner in protest. On
October 11,
2006 EMI announced that all stocks had been destroyed, noting it had no plans to re-release the record in India in the future.
Band members
Current members
Former members
Paul Bostaph – drums (1992–1996, 1997–2001)
Jon Dette – drums (1996–1997)
Tony Scaglione – drums (1986–1987)
Discography
Cover albums
1996: Undisputed Attitude
Awards
Grammy Awards
2007: Best Metal Performance for the song; "Eyes of the Insane"
2008: Best Metal Performance for the song; "Final Six"Further Information
Get more info on 'Slayer'.
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