Welcome to The Saw’s Butcher Shop! I am your host, The Saw. We have an (unfortunate) milestone this year – May 2, 2023 marked the ten-year anniversary of the death of Jeff Hanneman, one of the founding guitarists of Slayer. His (and his band’s) influence on the Heavy Metal genre is legendary and almost incalculable. Hanneman wrote many of the most famous Slayer songs, and many famous Slayer lyrics. To celebrate the life of the legend, Ya Girl wants to focus on the classic Slayer era with the classic line-up.

Slayer was formed in 1981 in Huntington Park California by Hanneman, Kerry King (guitar), Tom Araya (bass, vocals), and Dave Lumbardo (drums). In the original line-up, all of Slayer’s lyrics were contributed by Hanneman, King, and Araya; and all music was written by Hanneman and King. This is interesting when one examines the style, composition, structure, and sound of the “classic” Slayer albums. 

Show No Mercy

Released in December of 1983, Show No Mercy (Metal Blade) was Slayer’s debut album. The record was completely financed by the band. They signed with (the then new label) after performing a cover of Iron Maiden’s, “Phantom of the Opera.” The record was a successful start for the band, though the musical concept was much different, and the lyrical content proved to be controversial – the band continually suffered from lawsuits and album release delays because of various public stigmas and profiles. 

The title track, as well as “The Antichrist,” “Die by the Sword,” and “Black Magic” are staples in Slayer’s live sets, and are always on fan lists of favorite Slayer songs.

Hell Awaits

Released in March of 1985, Hell Awaits (Metal Blade), the sophomore full-length, was funded by the record company and you can really tell it from the production quality. The album is very progressive (especially when compared to its follow-up), with much longer songs and a definite evolution in structure from the previous record. With a much darker Thrash style, Hell Awaits stands as a foundational and very influential album in the (then) blossoming Thrash Metal sub-genre. 

The Legendary title track is unmatched! Later versions of this album would feature two songs from the Haunting the Chapel EP released in ’84 – the title track and “Captor of Sin,” the latter of which was a favorite live track for many decades. 

Reign in Blood

On October 7, 1986, Reign in Blood (Def Jam Recordings) dropped onto an unsuspecting world. Hailed as, arguably, the greatest Heavy Metal album of all time, Slayer’s third record really marked a stylistic departure from any of the band’s previous work. First, Def Jam was a Hip-Hop label, but it put a lot of money into the production and distribution of this release. Secondly, the entire record is less than 30 minutes long. And third, likewise, the songs are far shorter than previous albums. Slayer purposely and intentionally wrote short and to the point tracks, which proved to blow the listener away – this record is an ass-whoopin’! Ya Girl gave this record a full Classic Review a few years ago, check it out!

“Angel of Death,” “Postmortem,” and “Raining Blood” are the ultimate tracks on this record, but every song is brilliant! What a masterpiece!! 

South of Heaven

Slayer’s fourth, and last release of the ‘80s, South of Heaven (Def Jam) was another banger; but again, much different from its predecessor. Having released a progressive album, a blistering fast (and quickly to the point) album, South of Heaven was intentionally slower and more methodic. It features more melodic riffs and harmony in its layers, with more singing from Araya. 

Once again, the title track is (perhaps) the most memorable – withstanding the test of time up until the present day. And “Mandatory Suicide” and “Spill the Blood” are must-have tracks for any collection. 

Seasons in the Abyss

IMO, the last of the classic Slayer albums is 1990s, Seasons in the Abyss (Def American Records). This record is, it would seem, a combination of all that Slayer had done in the 80s. The fifth studio album featured the last of the classic line-up, a fusion of trademark Slayer sound, and was a watershed album; for everything that followed from here on out never recaptured this classic era. 

Again, the title track is timeless. “War Ensemble,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Hallowed Point,” and “Skeletons of Society” became staples in live performances by the band. 

Thus, a playlist of the best of classic Slayer would look something like this:

• Show No Mercy
• The Antichrist
• Die by the Sword
• Black Magic
• Hell Awaits
• Capture of Sin
• Angel of Death
• Postmortem/Raining Blood (these two are meant to be played as a single song)
• South of Heaven
• Mandatory Suicide
• Spill the Blood
• Seasons in the Abyss
• War Ensemble
• Dead Skin Mask
• Hallowed Point
• Skeletons of Society

Now, I am fully aware that later Slayer albums contain some great songs, but it seems to me – from my experience – that it is this early era of the band that contains the quintessential fan favorites.

 Incidentally, only one Slayer album was released after the death of Hanneman (2015s, Repentless), but all tracks were from material that preceded his death. Jeff Hanneman is sorely missed, but his spirit and legacy live on in every single Metal musician (and band) today! Rest in power, king! 

Stay Metal,

THE SAW