Slayer

This article is about the thrash metal band. For Slayer (disambiguation), see Slayer (disambiguation).

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band, founded in Huntington Park, California, in 1982 by Kerry King (guitars), Tom Araya (bass and vocals), Jeff Hanneman (guitars) and Dave Lombardo (drums). Lombardo has been in and out of the group three times, but the others have been permanent members. Hanneman and King are the group's main songwriters. Slayer is often mentioned as one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth.

Overview

Slayer (along with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth) is often credited with creating American thrash metal by speeding up the sound of NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden and Venom. Slayer also drew from hardcore punk influences such as Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag and The Misfits, borrowing some of that music's emphasis on extremely quick tempos in many of their songs. The riff style and thematics of the NWOBHM band Venom is the main metal influence in Slayer's aesthetic, especially in their early career.

Slayer found moderate commercial success and are known for their devoted cult following. Their graphic album art and lyrics, which touch on subjects like serial killers, criticism of religion, the Holocaust and warfare, have generated strong criticism.

Though Araya has never typically used the "death grunt" vocal style (minor incorporations of the grunt on Hell Awaits being the most notable exception) commonly associated with death metal, Slayer's music, especially the albums Hell Awaits (1985) and Reign in Blood (1986) is generally regarded as a major influence on death metal. However, due to the higher pitched vocals (influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate) in their songs (compared to the lower death metal range), their influence on black metal must also be noted. Several premier black metal acts such as Emperor and Mayhem cite Slayer as an influence.

History

File:Slayer eagle.jpg

Slayer eagle logo, used during the Seasons in the Abyss period.

Originally known as Dragonslayer, the band shortened its name due to the consensus that "Dragonslayer" sounded too corny. Contrary to what some believe, Slayer was not chosen as an acronym for Satan Laughs As You Eternally Rot; rather, this wording, found on the liner notes to Divine Intervention, was added as a backronym after the name was shortened. Araya has jokingly stated that they chose Slayer because "it was cool, easy to chant".. In an interview on Triple J while touring Araya also stated that the shortening occured as "Dragonslayer' sounded "too faggy". The backronym might orginate from the line "Laughing as you eternally rot" from the song "Live Undead" (South of Heaven, 1988) or the first vinyl pressing of the band's first album, Show No Mercy is rumored to have the words "Satan Laughs As You Eternally Rot" etched in the blank space.

Slayer's first album, Show No Mercy, was released in 1983 on Metal Blade Records. It contains such fan favorites as "Die By the Sword", "The Antichrist" and "Black Magic." It succeeded in gaining the band a cult following and notice in the then-nascent metal community.

The band's second release, the Haunting the Chapel EP, was considerably darker and more thrash-oriented than its predecessor, and is considered to have laid the groundwork for what the band's classic sound would become. It opens with the song "Chemical Warfare," which is still typically one of two songs the band plays as a live concert finale.

The band's second full-length release, Hell Awaits, expanded on the darkness of Haunting the Chapel, hell and Satan were common song subjects. Musically it is the band's most progressive offering, containing only seven tracks, three of which clocked in at over six minutes. The intro to the album is a demonic-sounding voice repeating "Join us," reversed on tape to play backward, and ending with an ironic "Welcome back" before the title track proper begins.

After Hell Awaits Slayer were offered a recording deal by Russell Simmons' and Rick Rubin's Def Jam Recordings, a then largely rap-based label. The band signed and quickly began working on its third album with Rubin as co-producer. The result, 1986's Reign in Blood, has been called a "thrash metal masterpiece" and is one of the most influential metal albums ever produced. Kerrang! called Reign in Blood "the heaviest album of all time" while In 2006 Metal Hammer named Reign in Blood their number one of their top two hundred albums in Metal Hammer's lifetime as well coming in at number one in their top twenty thrash albums.

South of Heaven, released in 1988, marked a significant musical departure. To contrast the speedy assault put forth on Reign in Blood, Slayer consciously slowed down the tempos and focused on sheer heaviness. They also added clean, undistorted guitars in parts, as well as toned-down vocal styles not heard on previous albums. While some critics praised the album as evidence of Slayer's desire to grow musically and avoid repeating themselves, the new sound disappointed some of the band's fans who had grown accustomed to the thrashier style of earlier releases. Yet, even though fans remain divided on the subject, two songs from the album (Mandatory Suicide and South of Heaven) have become almost permanent additions to the band's live setlist.

Following the release of South of Heaven, the band recorded a thrash-metal cover of Iron Butterfly's signature song, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. This song was included on the soundtrack to the movie Less Than Zero.

The follow-up album, Seasons in the Abyss, was more of a return to the sound of Reign in Blood and was greeted warmly by fans. A video clip for the title track had the band playing in the Middle East, shortly before the start of the Gulf War. Vocal overdubs on "Temptation" and a child's voice pleading underneath the track "Dead Skin Mask" (about necrophile Ed Gein)–as well as the title track, which originally made use of a flute–were the most obvious signs of the band's growth.

A double live album, Decade of Aggression, was released in 1991 but aside from a brief tour the next year (including an appearance at the 1992 Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, nothing new would be heard from Slayer for three years. However they did record a cover of a song with rapper Ice-T for the soundtrack to the movie Judgement Night. Released on September 14, 1993 it was entitled "Disorder" though it was actually a medley of three Exploited songs, "War", "UK '82", and "Disorder".

1994 saw the release of Divine Intervention. The new record boasted songs about Jeffrey Dahmer ("213," his apartment number) and Reinhard Heydrich ("SS-3") amongst other themes of murder and the evils of church and government. Live Intrusion, a video of concert footage, was released the next year and features a joint cover of Venom's "Witching Hour" with Machine Head, who were Slayer's support on the spring 1995 tour. (Relations between Kerry King and Robb Flynn have since badly deteriorated.)

Undisputed Attitude (1996) found Slayer reaffirming their love for hardcore punk. The band covered songs by Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., D.R.I., D.I., Dr. Know, Verbal Abuse and even Iggy and the Stooges. Songs "Can't Stand You" and "Ddamm" were previously unreleased punk songs written by Hanneman in 1984-1985 while in an unnamed side project. The album's ending track was an original song entitled "Gemini", to date the slowest song Slayer has produced.

1996 also saw a lawsuit brought against the band by the parents of Elyse Pahler, who accused the band of encouraging their daughter's murderers through their lyrics. The lawsuit was thrown out in 2001, for multiple reasons including "principles of free speech, [lack of a] duty and [lack of] foreseeability" - California Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County. A second lawsuit, an amended complaint for damages against Slayer, their label and other industry and label entities, was also dismissed, Judge E. Jeffrey Burke stating "I do not consider Slayer's music obscene, indecent or harmful to minors".[4]

Diabolus in Musica (Latin for "The Devil in Music") was released in 1998 and marked, along with an altered logo, a change in compositional style for the band. This style incorporated a new groove into some song structures and fan reaction was divided. Nevertheless, a successful world tour followed. The title itself refers to Slayer (and Heavy Metal generally) making use of the musical range refered to in the Middle Ages as The Devil's Scale.

God Hates Us All was released on September 11, 2001. The release date was delayed from original because Wal-Mart would not carry the album with the original nailed bible cover art. Slip cover inserts were made and the resulting delay pushed the release back to 9/11. Some promotional material announcing the album title and release date drew an unintended connection with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They have also released two live DVDs (War at the Warfield and Still Reigning) and box set (Soundtrack to the Apocalypse) featuring rarities, live CD and DVD performances and various Slayer paraphernalia.

The band received their first Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" on January 8, 2002.

In 2003 Slayer toured playing Reign in Blood in its entirety throughout the fall, something they never did on the original album tour, under the tour banner Still Reigning. Their playing of the final song "Raining Blood" culminated with the band being drenched in a rain of fake blood.

Current

After a long hiatus the much anticipated new album Christ Illusion (released on August 8) was to be released on June 6, 2006, a reference to the Number of the Beast. However, due to recording difficulties, the date was pushed back and instead Kerry King unsuccessfully attempted to use the date June 6 to re-launch his personal website, www.kfkindustries.com (which is still pending). This album would be the first with original drummer Dave Lombardo since Seasons in the Abyss. The new song, Cult, is now available from www.slayer.net.

Instead of the full album, Slayer released Eternal Pyre on June 6, 2006, a limited-edition EP that features the new song Cult, a live performance of War Ensemble in Germany and video footage of the band recording Cult in the studio, was released exclusively through Hot Topic. The pressing of 5,000 CDs sold out within hours of its release.

August 8 2006, saw Slayer's latest album "Christ Illusion" debut at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, selling 62,000 copies. This is the band's highest chart position in the United States to date, proving the 2000s to be the most commerically successful period for the band within the mainstream. Christ Illusion improved on their previous highest charting album "Divine Intervention" which debuted at #8 in 1994. The following week the "Christ Illusion" album dropped to #41 on the charts. During the week of the Christ Illusion CD release, the full album could be heard on Slayer's MySpace page.

Christ Illusion featured the band's single Cult as well as the controversial Jihad, concerning the 9/11 terrorist attacks from the point of view of one of the attackers. A worldwide tour, the Unholy Alliance, has been undertaken to support the new record.

Rotating drummers

Dave Lombardo left the band in 1986 briefly during the Reign in Blood tour and was replaced by Tony Scaglione of Whiplash. However, after the tour was over, Lombardo came back and asked to rejoin Slayer. Lombardo left the band again in 1992 (most believed for good) and formed a band called Grip Inc. Lombardo has also been the drummer in experimental group Fantômas, led by former Faith No More and Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton. Lombardo also appeared on the experimental Finnish heavy metal cello band Apocalyptica's Reflections and self titled albums.

King recruited former Forbidden drummer Paul Bostaph who remained in the band until 1996. Bostaph left the band to join a project called "Truth About Seafood"; he was replaced by Jon Dette of Testament. Jon Dette left Slayer in 1997, because things did not work out with the rest of the band.

Slayer asked Bostaph to return to the band. Bostaph agreed and stayed in Slayer until 2001. Bostaph claimed he had sustained an injury that would hinder his ability to play. Shortly thereafter, he announced he had joined the Bay Area band Systematic and later Exodus. Bostaph rejoined Slayer once again during the "God Hates Us All" tour, and has since left the band and rejoined Exodus, and was replaced by Dave Lombardo, and he has recorded an album with them (Christ Illusion, 2006).

Accusations of racism and Nazi sympathies

Critics accuse the band of holding Nazi sympathies, basing this claim on the lyrics of the song "Angel of Death" from the Reign in Blood album (which was produced by Rick Rubin, who is Jewish). The lyrics were inspired by the acts of Josef Mengele, the doctor who committed atrocities against Jewish and Roma prisoners in the name of pseudo-scientific research during World War II, and who concentration camp inmates dubbed the "Angel of Death".

In addition to the controversy caused by "Angel of Death", 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. Most of 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 reportedly incensed Minor Threat frontman Ian MacKaye, who said "that is so offensive to me."

An argument is made against these theories both by Slayer's supporters and what seems to be definitive proof that these critics are wrong in their accusations. In a 2004 interview with Tom Araya, when asked, "Did critics realize you were wallowing in parody?", Tom Araya replied, "No. People thought we were serious!...Back then you had 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". Those who disagree with these critics assert that Slayer has no Nazi sympathies or racist views, and point out that Tom Araya and Dave Lombardo have Hispanic ancestry.

It is also worth noting that some Nazi sympathizers are well-known for their public Holocaust denial, which is inconsistent with use of the "Angel of Death" lyrics as a basis for criticism because the song describes events that some Nazi sympathizers publicly claim never occurred. Moreover the lyrics to "Behind the Crooked Cross" do clearly state that Germans were forced to join the Nazi army, as opposed to doing so by choice, thus negating any alleged sympathy or glorification of the nazi ideology, portrayed as an oppressive moloch demanding 'blind obedience'. It must be noted that the critics were oblivious about the song SS-3, from the album Divine Intervention, the song, named after Reichsprotektor Reinhardt Heydrich's personal licence plate, recounts the bloody reprisals following the nazi official's assassination by Czech SOE agents parachuted near Prague in very graphical terms. Additionally, Slayer has ties to the hardcore punk scene, which, aside from the Nazi punk element, is overwhelmingly anti-racist. Photographs of Slayer members sporting Dead Kennedys stickers on their guitars can be found in several albums and posters. Dead Kennedys are notable for their famous song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" The most that can be objectively said is that Slayer enjoys flirting with taboo ideas and Nazi imagery, which are part of the overall concept of the band as musical portrayers of evil and death (not unlike horror films) and that its lyrics are often open to conflicting interpretations.

Even before it has been officially released, the song "Jihad" has already begun to stir more controversy. Written from the perspective of a religious terrorist, some people have drawn comparisons between it and "Angel of Death". Slayer continues to stir debate over where their true sympathies lie to stir publicity for their revenue generating manufactured image.

Adding to the suggestion of nazi sympathies (but not conclusive evidence thereof) is the S in 'Slayer', which is similar to a sigrune of the Nazi paramilitary group, the SS. The SS was also the inlay of the fretboard of Hannemans signature ESP guitar, but the models were banned and then modified by ESP to create a more acceptable guitar. In the same line, Slayer fans are sometimes referred to as the Slaytanic Wehrmacht. This use of religious and moral icons for shock effect is a widespread custom among various genres of metal bands.

In India, the album Christ Illusion was recalled by EMI after protests from Muslim and Christian religious groups. On October 11, 2006 it was announced that all stocks had been destroyed.

Discography

Main article: Slayer discography

Studio Albums

• 1983: Show No Mercy
• 1985: Hell Awaits
• 1986: Reign in Blood #94 US Gold
• 1988: South of Heaven #57 US Gold, #25 UK
• 1990: Seasons in the Abyss #40 US Gold, #18 UK
• 1994: Divine Intervention #8 US Gold, #15 UK
• 1996: Undisputed Attitude#34 US, #31 UK
• 1998: Diabolus in Musica #31 US, #27 UK
• 2001: God Hates Us All #28 US, #31 UK
• 2006: Christ Illusion #5 US, #23 UK

EPs

• 1984: Haunting The Chapel
• 2006: Eternal Pyre

Members

Current members

• Tom Araya - Bass, vocals (1982-Present)
• Kerry King - Guitars (1982-Present)
• Jeff Hanneman - Guitars (1982-Present)
• Dave Lombardo - Drums (1982-1986, 1987-1992, 2001-Present)

Former members

• Tony Scaglione - Drums (1986-1987)
• Paul Bostaph - Drums (1992-1996, 1997-2001)
• Jon Dette - Drums (1996-1997)

National Day of Slayer

An organization known as National Day of Slayer LLC declared that the June 6th, 2006, would be a National Day of Slayer, during which everyone should "Listen to Slayer at full blast" . In addition, the single CD Eternal Pyre was released on the day, exclusive to Hot Topic chain stores.

Earlier in the year, the Day of Slayer was temporarily altered in honor of the once-per-century timestamp 01:23 04/05/06, but was changed back to the original 06/06/06 date within a few days. Speculation holds that future dates for the "Day of Slayer" will be announced, to give the website a reason to exist.

As of June 13, 2006, the National Day of Slayer site has been the center of controversy, due to the Slayer holiday vandalism of St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. Much has been made of the incident in the mainstream press, though no arrests have been made and the creators of the site (who have remained anonymous in interviews) have declined to claim credit for anything other than reporting the story.