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THE REVIEW
The year is 1986, the record label is Def Jam of a certain Rick Rubin, already in the past producer of the most important metal and non-metal bands (Beastie Boys), the album in question could only be "Reign In Blood" by Slayer, a pure concentration of thrash/speed metal, and an undisputed masterpiece in the history of this genre.
After albums like "Show No Mercy" or "Hell Awaits", hampered by a cacophonous and muddled sound, Tom Araya (bass and vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar), and the drum master Dave Lombardo (drums) recorded ten tracks of rapid thrash metal played at insane speeds, like no band had ever done before. The vocals of Tom Araya proclaim anger, grit, and power, becoming a true trademark in almost all the albums, as well as the seemingly chaotic and insane solos of the two guitarists on all the tracks.
"Piece by Piece", "Necrophobic", "Jesus Saves", are pieces of unique sonic violence, supported by the continuous and pounding double bass of Dave. "Raining Blood" with its intro will become a true showpiece of the band during live performances, and we can consider it as the example of the typical Slayerian way of composing that has distinguished almost all the best songs. Of course, after nearly over 20 years of career, it is clear that the general sound of the band may suffer from the so-called "already heard", but the fans of the band want just this from the group.
Note: "Angel of Death" focuses on the atrocities committed during the Nazi regime, a song that then created several problems and accusations of Nazism, flatly denied by the band, although the symbolism used by the group especially in live performances (Eagles/double S) appears unclear.
Masterpiece!!!
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Summary by Bot
Reign In Blood by Slayer is regarded as a defining thrash metal album released in 1986 under Rick Rubin's Def Jam label. The band delivers rapid, energetic tracks with powerful vocals and chaotic guitar solos. Classic songs like Raining Blood and Angel of Death stand out, though the latter sparked controversy due to its lyrical content. The album's intense speed and aggression cemented Slayer’s legacy as genre pioneers.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band formed in 1981 in Huntington Park, California. They are widely regarded as pioneers of thrash and extreme metal and remained active until their final shows in 2019.68 Reviews
Other reviews
By cliffburton86
29min and 40 sec of speed, fury, and massive technical prowess!
'Angel of Death,' inspired by the 'achievements' of the SS doctor, Joseph Mengele, represents one of the cornerstones of Slayer’s discography.
By James1
"20 minutes of pure thrash!"
"If Metal is a negative poem, then this CD is a precious source."
By Big D
"Angel Of Death kicks in: the riff is one of the most damnably granite and devastating in metal history, a pure frontal assault on the listener's ears."
"Reign in Blood is one of the most ingenious, most devastating, most powerful works ever conceived by the human mind."
By durasno7
Reign In Blood, or, the masterpiece of extreme music, the masterpiece of Slayer, the greatest manifesto of violence and rage that the human mind has ever conceived.
To be so-called metalheads and not own this album would be like not having one of those albums that encapsulate within themselves the very concept of 'Metal'.
By mirkopianta
Uh-oh! It has been pointed out to us that this review also appears (in whole or in part) on truemetal.it and we have been asked to remove it.
