Review:

on 2012-02-04 CharlesMartel Said:

It takes a particular type of person to like Slayer, and I guess I am not that person. Apologies to anyone who likes this but I envisage the particular type of person as being a 17-year old male, a loner and a misfit - a sociopath in short - who cannot get laid and plots revenge on the world in his bedroom while listening to this. Not that this music influences people rather than attracts them, but I find it no surprise that the Columbine kids were fans of Slayer. I can imagine that, if Beavis and Butthead were real, they would love Slayer.

Thrash metal was something which arrived at a certain time, almost as an antithesis to punk. And yet there is often little between an American hardcore punk outfit and a thrash metal band  both play fast, loud, relatively short songs whose vocals are nigh on incomprehensible. I can see why some people would like this, but it is just not something which appeals to me. It seems as if Slayer took one song, one idea and slightly rewrote it nine further times and then put it out as "Reign in Blood".

My favourite moment on the whole album is the closing bars of "Raining Blood" because I know I don't have to listen to any more of it. I suppose you can't fault the guys for energy, but it sure does grate on the inner ear after a while. I can imagine developing tinnitus if I listened to too much of this. What amazes me is that the band are still going after nearly 30 years, albeit after several line up changes. 30 years of making stuff like this, jeez, I'd be needing a hearing aid turned up to eleven if that were me.

Now I know this is touted, by fans of thrash metal, as the album which defines the genre. Thank you. On that basis I bought it. And frankly I have regretted it ever since. I have probably played the vinyl no more than a dozen times. I think I have got beyond the first side maybe once or twice. I can just about tolerate it when a song comes up on the iPod shuffle but beyond that, this is something which sits on a shelf and reminds me of a time when I bought albums solely on the basis of personal recommendations because there was no internet and I couldn't download a few tracks to check out first. If it weren't for the fact that, for the most part, I never get rid of an album I own (there have been some notable exceptions), then I would no longer have this in my collection.
Rating: 2/10

on 2012-01-26 jk666 Said:

I remember being blown away by the speed of Reign In Blood and playing South of Heaven for friends who said, 'this isn't fast at all...'

Not Rated

Review:

on 2010-08-23 gutterseed Said:

I couldn't completely disagree with you more. This album is early, and rightfully the song "Raining Blood" is a great song. However, I think it's a bit stupid to judge a band based on their early days alone. This band has put out so many great albums it's hard to call this a "benchmark".
I would have to say that a "benchmark" album is when a band shows it can stand on it's own, this my friends, is not that album. For slayer, I would say that Undisputed Attitude is a benchmark album. When you can take punk rock and prove to a listener that you can adapt it to your style, that is the definition of benchmark.
It's obvious you're not going to enjoy every album a band puts out. South of Heaven and Season's in the Abyss are by far two of Slayer's greats, but everyone's forgetting Christ Illusion, or God Hates us All, and if you simply "stop listening" to a band and are unfamiliar with their catalog??? How can you effectively review the band? To say they "lost focus" after Reign in Blood is completely fictious.
I really don't get it people. Afraid to play fast? Slayer? Listen to Undisputed Attitude and tell me that's not fast? Christ Illusion tour was outstanding. And if that's not enough, Their Ozzfest contribution is always nailed to perfection. Slayer's legit, and what they have done is far from "catchy" or "heavy".
Also, if you're going to call something "interesting"...you should be in the minority, it suggests lack of knowledge and the very "filler" you complain about. Reign in Blood was not well rounded, far from benchmarking, but it's about as far as you go when you don't know what you're talking about.
Not Rated

on 2010-08-06 SolitaryMan Said:

RiB is certainly one of the benchmark metal releases of all time. It has, over time along with their live performances and increasingly sharp knack for writing very catchy heavy metal songs, made Slayer into the household name they are today. No album afterwards was as well-rounded if you ask me, but South and Seasons were both...interesting...in their own ways. Fact is, after those albums, I haven't truly enjoyed listening to Slayer since. But obviously I'm in the minority there, haha.
Rating: 10/10

on 2010-08-06 mark_morton Said:

After the fury of Reign, I was actually a little put off by South of Heaven. I kinda felt that they were afraid to keep playing fast or something. I know, it was the stupid kid in me making that rationalization, but it was a very plodding album, and the filler tracks kinda bugged me, too. However, there was something mesmerizing about Seasons that pulled me back into the fray - it was a classy record! Hahahaha.
Rating: 10/10

on 2010-08-06 dscanland Said:

Although I do have to admit Reign In Blood's influence in Metal, I still prefer the more accessible Seasons In The Abyss and South Of Heaven. They opened up a new world for me when I was younger. I still enjoy the new Slayer albums too. I like how they have never really lost their way and focus.
Rating: 8/10