Slayers

Slayer is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1982 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King in Huntington Park, California. more...

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The band has since released ten studio albums, two live albums, and one boxed set, and remain one of the most influential thrash metal bands.

Slayer rose to fame in the 1980s as a leader of the American thrash metal movement, and helped to define the genre with their landmark 1986 release Reign in Blood, which Kerrang! magazine called "the heaviest album of all time". Slayer are often credited as one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth.

Often controversial, Slayer's graphic album art and lyrics have generated strong criticism amongst religious groups and the general public, with topics such as serial killers, satanism, religion, warfare and the Holocaust.

History

1980s

Early in 1982, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman joined bassist and vocalist Tom Araya, and formed Slayer. Drummer Dave Lombardo, who met King while delivering pizzas, completed the lineup. The band began playing cover versions of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs at clubs and parties around Southern California. Early shows relied on a satanic image, featuring pentagrams, face make-up, spikes, and upside down crosses.

Slayer recorded their first demo, a rehearsal recording featuring the songs "Fight Till Death", "Black Magic" and "The Antichrist", in 1982. The demo became widely traded in the 1980s underground tape trading scene, which also gave birth to fellow thrashers Metallica, Overkill, and Death Angel.

Combining the twin lead guitar approach of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, with the imagery of Venom and Mercyful Fate, and the speed and aggression of hardcore punk, Slayer developed their own style. Early works were praised for their "breakneck speed and instrumental prowess".

While opening for Bitch at the Woodstock Club in Los Angeles, Slayer were spotted by Brian Slagel, a former music journalist who had recently founded Metal Blade Records. Slagel convinced the band to record an original song "Aggressive Perfector", for his upcoming Metal Massacre III compilation, released in July 1983. The song created underground buzz, and the band signed a recording contract with Metal Blade. With no recording budget, the band were forced to self-finance their debut album. Combining Tom Araya's savings, who was employed as a respiratory therapist, with money borrowed from King's father, the band entered the studio in November 1983 to record their debut. The album was rushed into release by the new record label, hitting shelves just three weeks after tracks were completed.

Read more at Wikipedia.org